Arambagh Pricks Russel Pride

Iddi Badambuze's early strike helped Arambagh put an end to leaders Sheikh Russel's seven-match undefeated run in the B. League with an impressive 1-0 win yesterday.

The Ugandan slotted the ball into the net after six minutes when a corner by Kenyan midfielder Nicodemus was backheeled towards him by Ritu to catch the rival defence napping.

The last match of the eighth week, however, brought the worst out of team officials as Russel's Habibur Rahman Manu and Mosharraf Hossain Dewan came out of the bench to physically assault referee Munaf Sarker after the final whistle.

The police had to separate the two Russel officials and a ball boy who now face punishment. Perhaps, they got furious after the match official had turned down a second-half appeal for penalty.

Russel still shared lead with Muktijoddha and Abahani -- all three level on 15 points -- but the latter have the advantage of playing one game less.

Arambagh's fourth win in seven games pushed them just behind the leaders with 13 points.

The day belonged to the four Africa-based footballers fielded by Arambagh, who outmanoeuvred Russel's Moroccan quartet on the pitch.

Apart from a long-range effort by overlapping rightback Mishu just before the break, Russel hardly took a shot at the rival goal in the entire first half despite Touati Youness returning after a three-match lay-off due to injury. The prolific Moroccan striker looked unfit and was a shadow of his usual self but the desperate Russel management surprisingly kept the struggling player till the final whistle.

Russel however, got better after resumption and Tanvir shot just wide in the 49th minute.

Ritu should have doubled the lead four minutes later but fluffed a chance on one on one when he glided the ball wide of goalkeeper Zia. Arambagh topscorer Nicodemus, the other Ugandan in the line-up, then failed to hit the target from the top of the box on the hour.

Russel raised hopes of a fightback but Bulbul's effort in the 73rd minute was cleared by goalie Mitul although Russel players claimed that an Arambagh defender, who also jumped simultaneously with his keeper, handled the ball.