MSC gain no ground

Mohammedan striker Abdul Baten (L) and Abahani defender Rajani Kanta Barman fight for the ball during their Bangladesh League clash at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Photo: STAR

Mohammedan Sporting Club kept their faint hopes of a title alive in the Bangladesh League after playing out a goalless draw against leaders and arch-rivals Abahani in their crucial home match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Having started the game seven points behind perennial foes Abahani, Mohammedan found no way of forcing a victory in this do-or-die clash and had to be content with a draw despite putting up a spirited show from the word go.
Abahani, for the matter, maintained their seven point lead with 34 points after the allotted 12 matches in the first leg while Mohammedan, who have played a match less than Abahani, now has 27.
They will now play their last match of the first leg against Chittagong Mohammedan SC on March 24 in the port city.
"Everything is not over. We have still 13 matches in hands and I think we are quiet in the title race because no can say that Abahani will not lose points in their next 12 matches," said Mohammedan coach Maruful Haque after the game.
Mohammedan looked determined to secure full three points against Abahani and they started to put up their signs from the first minute with defender Nasir running the right flack to whip a threatening cross that was actually a symbol of what was coming next.
And, Mohammedan should have taken the lead in the very fourth minute had Nigerian striker Alamu Bukola Olaleken, off a Wali Faisal chipped ball, not been denied by the bar.
Mohammedan launched a combined attack through Nasir, Bukola and Mamunul Islam, whose left-footer to the far post was denied by a block from Abahani defender Sujan on the half-hour mark.
It was a contrasting performance for two-time champions Abahani, who were busy thwarting the Mohammedan attacks especially in the first half and could not make their mark on the game.
However, the Sky Blues looked better in the second half that also made the game more lively compared to the first half and they mustered their first shot on the target on the 60th minute. Picking up a through ball from Awudu Ibrahim, sriker Sheriff Din Mohammedan narrowly missed the target.
Mohammedan's reply was immediate with Mamunul's shot drifting past the post three minutes later.
Mohammedan should have opened the account in the 73rd minute when substitute Zahid Hossain snatched the ball from defender Sujan, darted into the danger zone and sent a well-judged chip for the unmarked Bukola, who saw his poor header cleared by Abahani national defender Atiqur Rahman Mishu from the goalline.
The wave of the Mohammedan attack could be measured by the 11 corner kicks they earned, but it was not enough to break Abahani's solid defence.
"The boys played good football, but I think the strikers might have a lack of concentration in finding the target though they played speedy football," said a disappointed MSC coach Maruf.
Maruf's counterpart Amalesh Sen, however, blamed the referee for his poor performance.
"How would the players play their natural game if the referee distrusted them repeatedly," Sen said. "I never saw such poor refereeing in my whole career."
Abahani's long-serving coach admitted that they misplaced many passes and the tendency of quick ball distribution made his midfield shaky to allow Mohammedan to go into attack.