MSC-Abahani crucial tie today
Archrivals Abahani and Mohammedan SC will look to close the gap on leaders Sheikh Jamal DC when they face off for the fourth time this season in their second-leg match of the Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today. The high-voltage match will kick off at 6:00pm today and will be telecast live by BTV.
The Sky Blues are in second position on 25 points, six behind leaders Sheikh Jamal, and five ahead of their archrivals. The two sides have met four times this season, with Abahani winning twice, drawing once and losing the last meeting -- the semifinal of the Independence Cup.
Abahani coach Ali Akbar Pourmoslemi is looking for revenge for their Independence Cup defeat as well as staying in the title hunt.
“We had injury problems during the Independence Cup. But now our players are all fit and I am confident of winning the match, which will be a big pressure match. I am thinking of an attacking strategy, although it may change according to match situation,” said Pourmoslemi, who guided the Sky Blues to their fourth professional league title in the 2011-2012 season during his first stint at the club.
Mohammedan, on the other hand, have some concerns with the players' fitness. Winger Zahid Hossain, midfielders Damien Chigozie and Hemanta Biswas are all carrying injuries and not certain for the match. Mohammedan come into this match on the back of a 2-3 defeat against Team BJMC, which broke an impressive unbeaten run of 12 matches. “We have a few injury concerns, but I am going to stick with my game plan. Last match against Team BJMC was one bad day for us, but we are taking inspiration from the Independence Cup victory. We need this victory more than Abahani as we need to get close to them,” said Mohammedan coach Rui Jose Capela, who himself suffered from a bout of stomach upset on Friday.
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