Mohammedan edge past Feni

Mohammedan skipper Zahid Hasan Emily (L) shoots one past a Feni Soccer defender during their Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

Mohammedan extended their winning run in the Nitol Tata Bangladesh Premier League with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Feni Soccer Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The ninth win overall, sixth in the second phase, in 17 matches helped the Black and Whites raise their tally to 32 points, just one behind second-placed Abahani, who have played a match more than their archrivals. Sheikh Jamal are on top with 39 points from 17 matches.
Yesterday's match was the first meeting between the two sides since the Independence Cup final where Mohammedan beat Feni Soccer in tiebreaker. Feni seemed very much up for a revenge against their mighty opponents as they played very attacking football but Mohammedan had the last laugh.
Feni Soccer went ahead with a 21-minute strike from Gambian midfielder Mathew Mendy who dodged past three defenders to place the ball to the left-hand side of Mohammedan goalkeeper Titumir Chowdhury. Feni came close to doubling the lead on the half-hour mark but a Titumir thwarted the attempt to keep the Black and Whites in the match.
Mohammedan levelled the margin in the 36th minute with a touch of luck as Feni goalkeeper Mohammad Nehal saw his poor fist on an Ubom Henry header sail into his own net.
Luck was again on Mohammedan's side as they took the lead in the 50th minute when left-back Tapu Barman's harmless-looking cross from the touchline kissed the back of the net despite getting a fingertip from Nehal.
Zahid Hasan Emily made it 3-1 in the 72nd minute when he availed a square-pass from Wahed Ahmed and nicely placed the ball home from inside six-yard box. However, Feni reduced the margin from the spot-kick through Azamal Hossain Biddut one minute from time, for some consolation.
“Every team is cautious about Feni Soccer, who are a much balanced side now with their new foreign players. We never thought of winning emphatically, but we did perform well today (Tuesday) and won the game with a little bit of luck,” said Zahid Hasan Emily, who hopes his side can topple Abahani by winning their next match against Sheikh Russel KC.
“If Sheikh Jamal drop points against Sheikh Russel in tomorrow's (Wednesday) match and we can beat Sheikh Russel in our next match, Mohammedan will also be in the title race,” said Emily.
“I can't blame the goalkeeper only, the defenders should also take the blame for the defeat,” said Feni Soccer's Gambian coach Omar Sise. “We had a lack of combination in the match due to the absence of suspended midfielder Landing Darboe.”
With ten matches still to go, Sise is hopeful of avoiding the drop. They are in ninth position with 11 points from 17 matches.