Mohammedan leap to fifth

Mohammedan Sporting Club returned to winning ways and leapfrogged to fifth position in the Bangladesh Premier League table after a 2-0 victory over struggling Chittagong Abahani at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The two-time Super Cup champions, who came into this match on the back of a defeat followed by two consecutive draws, took the lead in the 38th minute through Tawhidul Alam Sabuj before veteran national striker Zahid Hasan Emily sealed the fate of the match with a header in the 47th minute. The second win in seven matches took Mohammedan to 10 points, six behind leaders Abahani, who have played a match less than their arch-rivals.
In the first match of the day, promoted Uttar Baridhara held Feni Soccer to a 1-1 draw. Midfielder Shahidul Islam Shopon put Uttar Baridhara ahead in the 7th minute with an angular shot from the edge of the box, but the lead was cancelled on the half-hour mark from Feni's Gambian defender Mathew Mendy's powerful left-footer from inside the box.
The draw left both sides in their previous positions, as Uttar Baridhara stay in eighth position of the ten-team table with six points from seven matches while Feni Soccer remain bottom of the pile with only three points from the same number of matches.
Meanwhile, Mohammedan were desperately looking for their second victory, having drawn four out of their previous six matches, winning one and losing the other.  Their only win thus far had come against Team BJMC three matches ago and since then they had only bagged two points from three matches. Mohammedan did not play very convincing football, but were good enough to eke out two goals either side of the break.
Mohammedan coach Jose Rui Capela Batista was relieved to have bagged three precious points, having already dropped 11 points out of the maximum 18.  
“I am satisfied with the win. We played good football for 40 minutes in the whole match and that was good enough for the victory,” said the Portuguese.