Unheralded Samin denies Bashundhara Kings a winning start

Samin Yassar Juel came off the bench in the 89th minute and scored an equaliser deep into stoppage time as Arambagh Krira Sangha held defending champions Bashundhara Kings to a 1-1 draw in their opening Bangladesh Football League fixture at Gopalganj District Stadium on Saturday.

The 25-year-old forward produced a fine finish, glancing a header between two defenders and into the far corner after Akanbi Musa chipped the ball into the box from the edge in the eighth and final minute of time added on.

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Juel, who had made only around 47 top-flight appearances for Uttar Baridhara and Rahmatganj over the last seven years, joined Arambagh ahead of this season. He made an immediate impact, earning a valuable point for a side that finished ninth last season but retained their top-flight status after the league was expanded.

The Kings appeared on course for all three points after Nepalese forward Anjan Bista put them ahead in the 30th minute.

Arambagh’s veteran defender Mahmudul Hasan Kiron brought down Manish Dangi inside the box, prompting the referee to award a penalty.

Dangi’s compatriot Bista stepped up and confidently sent the spot-kick into the corner, leaving Arambagh goalkeeper Azad Hossain with no chance.

Bashundhara fielded three Nepalese players alongside an otherwise all-Bangladeshi starting line-up, but they could not hold on for victory as Juel's late intervention denied the champions a winning start.