MSC go third, Abahani held
A brace from Wahed Ahmed powered Mohammedan SC to a fighting 2-1 win over a spirited Brothers Union while ten-man Sheikh Russsel held title contenders Abahani to a goalless draw in the Nitol Tata Bangladesh Premier League encounters at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Their eighth win put the Black and Whites in third position with 29 points from 16 matches, four points behind second-placed Abahani, who increased their points tally to 33 with their sixth draw in 17 matches.
Brothers had to be content with fourth position, remaining on 26 points from 17 matches while holders Shiekh Russel stay in seventh spot in the ten-team table with 17 points from 14 matches.
The day's first match between Abahani and Sheikh Russel was ill-tempered while the second one between Mohammedan and Brothers was a fast-paced, entertaining affair.
Inspired by newly-appointed coach Jewel Rana, Mohammedan exerted huge pressure on Brothers -- who were on a five-match unbeaten streak -- and took the deserved lead in the 15th minute with Wahed placing a Damien Chigozi free-kick past goalkeeper Sabuj Das Ragu inside the box.
Brothers hit back to level the margin seven minutes into the second half as Rubel Mia availed a fumble from Hemanta Vincent and danced past three defenders to beat Mohammedan goalkeeper Titumir Chowdhury inside the box. With Brothers pressing for the lead, Mohammedan counter-attacked and restored the lead through Wahed, who dribbled past one defender and goalkeeper Titumir to score the decisive goal in the 71st minute.
In the first match, Abahani, who had previously been held to a goalless draw against Sheikh Jamal despite the latter playing with 10 men for the last 30 minutes, walked the same path after Sheikh Russel were reduced to 10 men in the 18th minute. Referee Tayeb Hasan gave Haitian Pascal Millien his marching orders for his unruly behaviour towards Abahani defender Mofazzal Hossain Saikat, who tugged at Pascal's ponytail.
Following the incident, Sheikh Russel players continued to protest the referee's decision, halting the match for eight minutes.
“He (Pascal) just shrugged off to take control of the ball when the opponent player tugged at his hair from the back but the referee sent him off,” said Sheikh Russel's Montenegrin coach Dragan Djukanovic. “I have been disappointed with the refereeing from my first day here and I don't know what problem others have with Sheikh Russel.”
Dragan however said that his charges have had injury problems that compelled him to choose alternative players and that his boys lost concentration after their AFC President's Cup campaign.
“Sheikh Russel played with 13 players, including three referees, despite being reduced to 10 men,” alleged Abahani's Iranian coach Ali Akbar, who blamed the referee for slowing down the match with frequent stoppages.
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