Staff Correspondent

Alamu Bukola scored a brace and set up the other as Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra beat Mohammedan Sporting Club 3-0 despite being reduced to 10 men in the 42nd minute of their Bangladesh Premier League match on Thursday.

The two goals not only took Bukola at the top of the scorers’ list with four goals in the competition but it also lifted Russell two places up to second with eight points.

Russell, however, were struggling at the beginning as the ball remained in Mohammedan’s possession most of the time in the first half and after their defender Mezbabul Haque Manik got his second yellow card in the 42nd minute, it the game is over for Russell.

Playing with a man less Russell had no other way but to go for counter-attacks with only Bukola as the lone striker.

The strategy, however, paid off as Bukola put them in front 12 minutes into the second half from Anwar Hossain’s through pass.

Bukola scored the second in the 78th minute from a penalty after he was felled by Mohammedan defenders Dominic Jonson and Morsalin Parvez. The referee cautioned both the defenders for the offence.

The harsh tackle on the opponents earned Johnson his second booking that made both the sides equal in number with two minutes to go.

Russell extended the lead to 3-0 in the injury time when Bukola cut back the ball from the edge of the penalty box for Moro Mohammed to slam into the Mohammedan net.

Russell coach Maruful Haque said his team took a little time to settle down at the beginning which allowed their opponents to put pressure on them at the initial stage.

‘I knew I will win because we are in a good shape. We need a little time to settle but we played really well once my players found the rhythm,’ said Maruf.