Manju Brace Saves Brothers

Two-goal Ashraful Qauader Manju inspired Brothers Union to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Rahamatganj in the penultimate round of the B. League yesterday.

Manju, who replaced Faisal Mahmud after the break, cancelled Rahamatganj midfielder Mohammed Mamun's first half strike in the 70th minute and slammed the match winner in the stoppage time as the Oranges recorded their seventh win in 19 games.

On a rain-soaked pitch at the Bangabandhu National Stadium that reminded the sparse crowd of a paddy field, football was far from attractive.

Defending looked like a difficult job for both sides who struggled to get purchase on the slow strip but the attackers also shared moments of embarrassment.

Local giants Brothers, who dominated the show, created the first real opportunity against the second-from-bottom old Dhaka outfit after 35 minutes.

With the rival defence failing to clear a combined Brothers attack, Jalaluddin set captain Masud Rana with a free shot and the veteran leftback kept the ball on target. However, Rahamatganj skipper Sony headed the ball out of the line to keep the scoreline goalless.

Mamun gave Rahamatganj a 1-0 lead at halftime when he broke the deadlock in the 44th minute with his second goal in the league. Taking a pass from Nigerian striker Francis just outside the penalty area, Mamun unleashed a rising shot from the left side to deceive Mohammed Ali as the ball went in off the rival goalkeeper's near post.

Minutes after his arrival on the pitch, substitute Manju stabbed the ball through a forest of legs for the equaliser after the Rahamatganj backline failed to clear a long ball.

Just when both sides looked settled for a draw, Jalal curved a lob from the right top pick Manju, who nodded home his third league goal in the first minute of the time added on.

Brothers, who play their last match against Chittagong Abahani away at the port city, regained fifth place with 26 points while there was no improvement for Rahamatganj from 13 points.