Bukola brace fires MSC

Nigerian striker Alamu Bukola Olaleken struck two goals as title aspirants Mohammedan Sporting Club registered an emphatic 3-1 win over hosts Chittagong Abahani in their second meeting of the Bangladesh League at the MA Aziz Stadium yesterday.
Bukola was also instrumental in the Black and Whites' first goal struck by mercurial striker Zahid Hasan Emily, who had struck five goals against Arambagh KS in the previous match in Dhaka.
On the back of a 7-0 drubbing of Arambagh, the high-flying visitors took to the field with a good impetus before facing the challenge from the hosts, who held them for over half-an-hour before conceding the first goal in the 37th minute.
Bukola ran down the right before whipping in a cross for Emily, who sent the cross home in a goalmouth melee to join top-scorer Sheikh Russel's Moroccan striker Samad Omari on 13 goals.
Then, Bukola doubled the lead on the eve of the break with a well-judged header when a rebound off a Wali Faisal free kick came in his way and the Black and Whites went for a comfortable breather.
After resumption, local boys stepped up the attacks and put up signs to come back in the match and the pressure paid off immediately when Rony set up by Mithun Chowdhury drove the ball home giving Mohammedan goalkeeper Aminul Haque no chance to react.
But Bukola made the result of Mohammedan safe striking his ninth league goal in the 64th minute.
Having collected a long ball, Bukola advanced into the box without facing trouble and sent the ball over the head of Abahani's advancing goalkeeper Khaled Azam Biplob, who, had earlier foiled a couple of chances from the visitors.
The local side also got a great chance in the first half but Abahani's national forward Mithun set by Rony drove his shot miles off the target in a one-on-one situation to disappoint Chittagong Abahani, who also lost 3-0 to Mohammedan in their first meeting in Dhaka.
Mohammedan have now 45 points from 17 outings, four points behind leaders Abahani while Chittagong Abahani stick to 17 playing as many matches.