MSC tame Ctg Abahani
A youthful Mohammedan SC came from a goal down to beat hosts Chittagong Abahani 3-1 in their first match of the second leg of the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League at the MA Aziz Stadium yesterday. The port city side stunned the visitors when new signing Choumrin Rakhain headed them ahead in the 27th minute. The lead lasted for almost 40 minutes before Mohammedan mounted a challenge and took the game away. The Black and Whites, switched to 4-4-2 formation from 4-2-3-1 formation, restored parity in the 66th minute, thanks to a powerful header from Guinean forward Ismael Bangoura.
Defender Mintu Sheikh gave the visitors the lead from a free-kick on in the 79th minute before Towhidul Alam Sabuj wrapped up the victory two minutes into the stoppage time.
The win took the Old Dhaka outfit to 23 points, just three behind league leaders Sheikh Jamal DC while Chittagong Abahani remained at 10th position with five points from 11 matches.
“We were ahead of Chittagong Abahani both technically and tactically even though they adopted a negative approach of wasting time after taking the lead. However, we were always confident of making a comeback,” said Mohammedan coach Josimuddin Ahmed Joshi.
MUKTIS HELD BY FENI
Meanwhile, Muktijoddha Sangsad were held to a goalless draw by Feni Soccer Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.
Muktijoddha Sangsad had the opportunity to reduce the gap with the league leaders Sheikh Jamal to four points, but their forwards wasted numerous opportunities either side of the break.
The All Reds had signed up Guinean Vasseba Toure in the mid-term transfer window to strengthen the midfield but the lanky midfielder hardly impressed in his maiden appearance. They also struggled in the absence of Maruf Ahmed, who was terminated by the club recently and eventually dropping two points against a side they beat 2-1 in the first leg.
Muktijoddha's Senegalese striker Camara Sarba wasted the first opportunity as he failed to beat goalkeeper Golam Mustafa in a one-on-one situation in the 12th minute while Feni Soccer saw unmarked Iqbal Hossain spoil their lone opportunity with a weak header which hardly troubled Muktijoddha goalkeeper Titumir Chowdhury.
After resumption, Muktijoddha's Naimur Rahman Shahed was denied by the woodwork while substitute Rokonuzzaman Kanchan squandered two sitters from close-range in the dying moments.
The stalemate took Muktijoddha to 20 points while Feni Soccer moved to eighth position with nine points from 11 matches.
WALSON RESCUES BROTHERS
In the second match of the day in Dhaka, Augustine Walson scored twice to salvage a point for Brothers Union against Team BJMC. The Haitian, who was on top of the scorer's chart with 11 goals before this match, scored in either half but saw his strikes cancelled by Team BJMC's Elelta Kingsley and Samson Iliasu. Walson had the chance to score a hattrick, but missed from the spot in the first half.
The draw left Brothers Union in third position with 21 points from 11 matches while BJMC were at ninth position with nine points from same number of matches.
Comments