The trend of minnows upending their superior rivals continues in the JB Bangladesh Premier League as Feni Soccer Club held Brothers Union to a 1-1 draw at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong yesterday.

Sushanta Tripura put Feni Soccer ahead in the fourth minute of the game with a cleaver chip from outside the box, but Brothers salvaged the crucial point, with Haitian striker Augustine Walson striking the equaliser during the 27th minute.

The first five matches of the league have now yielded four draws, meaning that big names such as Sheikh Jamal DC, Mohammedan SC, Abahani and Chittagong Abahani have dropped points against minnows while title contenders Sheikh Russel KC lost to promoted Uttar Baridhara in their respective opening matches of the ninth edition of the professional football league.

The draw was not a surprise for Feni Soccer, who had earlier showed their potential in the season's curtain-raising Independence Cup by holding giants Abahani and Sheikh Russel KC to stalemates. The club from the south-eastern part of the country were however unlucky not to have secured all three points despite dominating the opposition throughout the game, courtesy of some sloppy efforts in front of goal by forwards Twum Frank and Akbar Hossain Ridon.

Feni Soccer, the 2014 Independence Cup runners-up went ahead in the fourth minute when Sushanta sped down the left flank and fired a looping shot over Brothers goalkeeper Uttam Barua who stood outside the box.

Brothers soon reacted with Mannaf Rabbi whipping in a fine cross from the right flank for Kawar Ali Rabbi who then drove the shot wide off target in the 17th minute before Walson ultimately levelled the margin after deftly receiving a long-ball from Ebayed Hossain Komol. The Haitian then danced past Feni goalkeeper Sujan Chowdhury and an opposition defender inside the box before calmly placing the ball through the near post.

After that, Feni soccer failed to restore the lead as Uche Felix and Ridon managed to squander four goal scoring opportunities.

Frank also failed to score despite getting Uttam Kumar in a one-on-one position in the 35th minute while Felix lost his balance inside the box with only the goalkeeper to beat three minutes later. Frank, a former Abahani striker, wasted yet another opportunity in the 54th minute before Ridon surprisingly volleyed wide from the edge of the six-yard box.

MUKTIJODDHA HELD BY TEAM BJMC

Nigerian midfielder Samson Iliasu gave BJMC the breakthrough during the 32nd minute by converting a penalty only to have it cancelled out by Ahmed Kolo Musa who the equaliser with a well placed shot after nutmegging goalkeeper Arifuzzaman Himel.

Muktijoddha Sangsad could have secured the full three points had Ahmed Kolo Musa not wasted the spot kick in the 53rd minute. The All Reds also failed to capitalize on BJMC being one-man short after Bayebeck was given the marching order in the 65th minute.

Kolo equalised the margin two minutes later after bad defending from Nigerian defender Samuel Adams, a misplaced header clearance by Samuel fell before Kolo who then took the shot from the edge of six-yard box.