MSC's 3rd-place hopes fading

Popular Mohammedan SC all but wasted their chance of finishing third in the Nitol Tata Bangladesh Premier League after playing out a goalless draw against Brothers Union in their penultimate match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Their ninth draw in 26 matches left Mohammedan stuck in fourth position with 42 points, one point behind third-placed Muktijoddha Sangsad, who still have two matches left against comparatively easy rivals Feni Soccer Club and bottom-placed Uttar Baridhara Club.
The Motijheel-based outfit however ensured a fourth-place finish in the 10-team table, one place higher than their position at the end of the last season, as Brothers -- in fifth position with 38 points from 26 matches -- have no chance of toppling Mohammedan with only one match in hand against Team BJMC.  
Mohammedan SC could have toppled Muktijoddha Sangsad with a straight win over Brothers, whom they beat 2-1 in their previous meeting, but the Black and Whites had to be settle for a draw thanks to failure of the forwards.
With the championship being already decided, both sides lacked motivation and the absence of their foreign coaches left them no urgency, even though Mohammedan created better opportunities.
Mohammedan came close to taking a lead in the eighth minute but Arup Kumar Baddya floated over the open net while striking duo Wahed Ahmed and Towhidul Alam Sabuj failed to connect an Arup cross in front of the open net two minutes into the second half.
Brothers goalkeeper Sujan spectacularly thwarted two efforts from Mezbabul Haque Manik and Wahed Ahmed while Mohammedan goalkeeper Titumir Chowdhury denied Shafiqul Islam to play a draw match.