Kings cruise past City Club with second-half blitz

Bashundhara Kings, the reigning champions, produced a clinical second-half display to beat City Club 3-0 in the Bangladesh Football League (BFL) at Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur on Friday, with Robson Azevedo Da Silva, Chukwuiebube Emeka Ogbugh and Sayed Shah Quazem Kirmanee finding the net.

Bayazid Alam Zubair Nipu’s side dominated the first half but struggled to convert their chances. The six-time champions, who opened their title defence with a 1-1 draw against Arambagh before thrashing Wanderers 7-0, have now scored 10 goals without conceding in their last two matches.

Kings created an early opportunity in the eighth minute when Rakib dispossessed Rajan and set up Caique Jesus da Silva, but the Brazilian forward delayed his shot and squandered the chance. Manish Dangi’s dangerous cross in the 18th minute was also intercepted by Rajan before Caique could finish.

City threatened through Okafor’s header from a Rafiqul cross in the 21st minute, but the effort sailed over the bar. Robson then missed two opportunities, firing straight at goalkeeper Isak Akand in the 27th minute before being denied by a sharp save six minutes later.

The breakthrough finally arrived four minutes after the restart. Robson exchanged a quick one-two with Caique on the edge of the box before cutting through the City defence and curling a composed finish into the bottom-left corner in the 49th minute.

City nearly equalised in the 69th minute when substitute Shayak Dost met Rafiq’s floated pass with a looping header, forcing Kings goalkeeper Srabon into an acrobatic fingertip save.

Kings doubled their lead three minutes later after Farhad Mona brought down Ogbugh inside the penalty area. Ogbugh converted the resulting spot-kick, sending Isak the wrong way.

Kirmanee sealed the victory in the fourth minute of stoppage time, collecting Abdullah’s pass before drilling a low shot into the net from the edge of the box for his first goal for the club.

The victory lifted Kings to fourth with seven points from three matches, ahead of City Club on goal difference.

Elsewhere, Mohammedan Sporting Club beat PWD Sports Club 2-0 at Shaheed Miraj-Tapan Stadium in Manikganj. Souleymane Diabate headed home Sunday’s cross in the 46th minute before setting up Minhaj Rakib for the second in the 78th. Mohammedan moved to nine points from three matches, level with leaders Bangladesh Police FC.