Dhaka, July 16 9UNB)- Rahmatganj MFS beat Team Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (Team BJMC) by 3-2 goals in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football at Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Tuesday.

Congolese striker Siyo Zunapio Jeancy scored two goals and forward Rakibul Islam scored one for Rahmatganj while defender Mohammed Al Amin and Uzbek striker Mukhamedov Otabek scored one goal each for the Team BJMC.

With the day’s feat, Rahmatgonj MFS advanced to the 9th slot from 12th securing 19 points from 20 matches while bottom-placed Team BJMC remained at their 13th slot with previous collection of 8 points from 21 matches.

In day’s another match, a hat-trick from Nigerian striker Raphael Odovin Onwrebe helped Sheikh Russel KC to defeat NoFel Sporting Club by 4-0 goals at the Shaheed Bhulu Stadium in Noakhali.

Sheikh Russel KC advanced to the 3rd slot with 42 points from 20 league matches while NoFel SC slipped to the 11th slot from 10th with previous collection of 16 points from 20 encounters.

Dhaka, July 16 (UNB)- League leaders Bashundhara Kings on Tuesday beat Brothers Union FC by 5-0 goals in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football at Sheikh Kamal Stadium in Nilphamari.

Defender Mohammad Ibrahim opened the account for Bashundhara in the 31st minute and striker Mohammed Motin Mia made his hat-trick scoring three goals in the 39th, 48th, 67th minutes respectively while midfielder Sheikh Alamgir Kabir Rana netted the fifth and final goal.

Bashundhara Kings maintained their top slot in the ongoing BPL league collecting 58 point from their 20 matches while Brother Union slipped to the 12th slot from 11th with their previous collection of 16 points from 20 matches.

In day’s another match, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC played a 1-1 draw with Arambagh Krira Sangha at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium in Gopalganj.

After the barren first half, Cameroonian striker Paul Emile Biyaga scored the first goal for Arambagh KS in the 66th minute while Guinean defender Yamoussa Camara leveled the margin for hosts Muktijoddha SKC in the 84th minute (1-1).

Arambagh KS earned 27 points from 21 matches while Muktijoddha SKC gained 22 points from 20 encounters.

Commerce City, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — James Olayinka had a goal and an assist to lead Arsenal past the Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids 3-0 in a friendly on Monday night.

Olayinka's sizzling right-footed strike in the 29th minute came from just outside the box as he scored into the upper-right corner of the net  to give the English Premier League team a 2-0 lead.

Olayinka assisted on Arsenal's opening score. He pushed the ball into the box where Bukayo Saka found it and lifted it into the net in the 13th minute. The third score came just after halftime from Gabriel Martinelli in the 61st minute. It was Martinelli's debut after joining Arsenal from Ituano earlier in the month.

"I'm really pleased with our effort," Colorado Rapids interim coach Conor Casey said. "We had chances but they're a great team at the end of the day it was just about the atmosphere."

In front of a near sellout — many of them cheering the visitors — Arsenal controlled the match.

"The first match was good to use different young players," Arsenal manager Unai Emery said. "To give them chances to show their quality, commitment and the idea to help the team. The atmosphere here was perfect, a lot of Arsenal supporters and we had a good day here."

This was the first preseason match for Arsenal ahead of the 2019-20 season as they embark on a three-game exhibition tour. Monday's match was the only one against an MLS club.

Olayinka's score was huge sign for the club. The 18-year-old developed through Arsenal's academy and signed with the first team in January. He has yet to play in the Premier League. He represents a big hope as Arsenal finished fifth in the EPL last season.

TIM TALKS

Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard was kept out of the game as the club limits his minutes in his final season. Howard spent the second half doing color commentary on local radio. Recently, Howard has done commentary for TNT during its Champions League coverage.

"It's important, this relationship is massive for our club and fan base," Howard said on the broadcast about the game. "The fact that we can attract this is massive."

While the third-year Rapids goalie is new to broadcasting, he said of his younger teammates playing, "The experience of playing against such a talented side is eye opening."

STAR POWER

Arsenal stars Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Özil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang entered the game in the 78th minute. Each got rousing ovations and drew reactions from the crowd in the final 10 minutes when generating opportunities.

The Rapids only played six regulars the entire 90 minutes as they played an MLS match on Saturday.

COLORADO PRIDE

Rapids' 17-year-old midfielder Cole Bassett grew up an Arsenal fan. The Littleton native played the first 45 minutes and had one scoring chance. His time was limited because of how much recent time he has had in league play.

"It was a nice experience," he said. "I just tried to show my stuff and maybe one day I'll get to that level."

CHAMPIONS

United States Women's National Team players Lindsey Horan and Mallory Pugh were in attendance. The two soccer stars and world champions are Colorado natives. They were honored at halftime in front of the crowd as Colorado's governor Jared Polis declared July 15th U.S. Women's National Team Day in the state.

"You could feel it in the air walking in," Casey said. "The energy of a full house. So many important people who are a part of pushing this sport and this club forward. Just a great night to take part of this and come together as a group."

UP NEXT:

Arsenal heads to Los Angeles to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday in an International Champions Cup match.

"The idea was to play with youngsters today. Wednesday we'll use some different players," Emery said. "Our preparation here is very important. The club is working very well, our idea is to continue creating."

The Rapids continue MLS play on Saturday at home against NYCFC.

Buenos Aires, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — Lionel Messi should apologize for his harsh comments at the Copa América in order to avoid a sanction, an Argentine member of sport's highest court said on Monday.

Following defeats in the last two finals, Messi had another frustrating end to the tournament when he was sent off in the third-place game between Argentina and Chile. He protested the refereeing and alleged "corruption," claiming Argentina had been treated unfairly.

Although a decision has not been announced, CONMEBOL could penalize Messi.

"I'd advise Messi to apologize because they're going to shake him with a sanction," Gustavo Abreu, an Argentine member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport told local Club Octubre radio. "He should apologize so they don't hit him with everything."

Abreu also suggested the Argentine Football Association contact Messi and ask him to say sorry.

Messi was red carded after getting into a first-half shoving match with Chile midfielder Gary Medel, who also was ejected.

Argentina won 2-1 but Messi didn't show up for the medal ceremony to protest the refereeing. He had harsh words after the match, saying "we shouldn't take part in this corruption."

Messi had several objections.

"There was lack of respect toward us during this Copa América," he said. "We could have done better, but they didn't let us make it to the final. Corruption and the referees are not letting the fans enjoy football. This is ruining football."

Messi had already loudly complained against Copa América refereeing after Argentina's loss to Brazil in the semifinals, hinting the result was expected because the hosts were allegedly in charge of South American soccer.

Messi said he expected Brazil to win the final against Peru, claiming it was already set up for the host's victory.

When asked if he feared being suspended for his comments, Messi said "the truth needed to be told."

CONMEBOL later released a statement condemning the "unacceptable" and "baseless accusations" that discredited the Copa América's integrity.

"In football, sometimes you lose and sometimes you win," the statement said. "One of the fundamental pillars of fair play is to accept the results and the refereeing decisions with respect."

Liverpool, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — England midfielder Fabian Delph has left English Premier League champion Manchester City to join Everton for a reported fee of up to 10 million pounds ($12.5 million).

Delph was not a regular for City but did play a key role in its league title win in the 2017-18 season, filling in at left back following a serious knee injury to Benjamin Mendy.

The 29-year-old Delph says "the club that I've been at has had success but ... I wanted to be playing more regularly and the opportunity to come and play for Everton was too good of an opportunity to turn down."