Hosts' last-gasp win
Late goals in each half including Ridon's 89th minute strike gave Chittagong Mohammedan their second win in three games when the hosts came from a goal down to beat Khulna Abahani 2-1 in the Citycell B. League at the MA Aziz Stadium here yesterday.
For the visitors, it was the sixth consecutive after beginning the league with an impressive 3-1 victory against Muktijoddha in the opening round. They stuck to second-from-bottom with three points while the port city Mohammedan, who have lost only to defending champions Abahani, moved to fourth place with nine points from six outings.
The home side hardly impressed in the first half, frustrating their fans who rushed to the stadium amid incessant rainfall. The rainfall also did not get the best out of both teams.
Khulna Abahani went ahead in the 25th minute when Ripon opened the scoring with a fine shot after controlling a pass from Ashiqul inside the penalty area.
Two minutes later, the tourists got another chance to double the lead when Ashiqul set Ripon. But this time, Ripon headed the ball just wide of the post.
Towhidul then put the local Black and Whites level in the second minute of stoppage time with an overhead shot from the right flank after rival goalkeeper Foyez rushed out of his line to stop the lone striker.
Mohammedan, inspired by the equaliser, enjoyed superior ball possession after the break but when it looked like that they were settling for a draw, the match winner came just one minute from time.
After a combined attack between Chowmrin -- who replaced Towhidul -- and Doulat, Guinean forward Raphael got behind the Khulna defence but his effort came off Foyez who failed to recover and stop Ridon scoring on the rebound.
Home coach Nazrul Islam Ledu confessed that his side did not play well in the first half.
"Our defenders were lacking concentration, I don't know why. I would try to find out the causes," he said.
Khulna Abahani coach Sheikh Hemayet Ullah rued missed chances for their defeat.
"My boys have played four matches in a span of only ten days. They are tired over non-stop travels and playing. These things have affected our performances too much," he observed.
TEAMS
CHITTAGONG MOHAMMEDAN: Mamun, Pradip, Shawkat, Dhiman, Sharif, Doulat, Anthony (Asad), Jitu (Lincoln), Towhid (Chowmrin), Raphael and Ridon.
KHULNA ABAHANI: Foyez, Khalid, Shahinur, Nafizur, Ranjit (Hadi), Ashiqul (Farukul), Selim, Ripon (Faisal), Hamid, Milton and Mehdi.
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