Abahani beat BJMC

Abahani forward Awudu Ibrahim (No. 20) gets the better of a tackle from a BJMC defender during their Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier League encounter at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.Photo: STAR

Abahani returned to winning ways by defeating Team BJMC by a solitary goal in their Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier League encounter at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
An eighth minute strike from Ghanaian forward Twum Frank gave the Sky Blues the full three points after two successive draws. The win takes the club from Dhanmondi to 11 points from five matches, two behind league leaders Muktijoddha while Team BJMC remain on 5 from four matches.
Abahani took the lead with virtually the first attack of the match when Twum Frank got on the end of an Awudu Ibrahim lob inside the box and the Ghanaian took a step before placing an angular shot at the back of the net.
BJMC, who started their league campaign with a win over Sheikh Jamal, pressed for an equaliser and won a few corners, but their strikers looked very ill-equipped to take advantage of those. However, they might have conceded a few more had it not been for the bravery of their goalkeeper Mazharul Islam Himel who thwarted at least four attempts from the Abahani strikers. Himel was at his best in the 45th minute when he dived full length to foil Lucky Paul's shot, the rebound off which fell to Nasir who slammed the ball straight at the defender.
Abahani made all the attacks in the second half, and should have increased the lead by a few more goals, but Awudu Ibrahim, Touhidul Alam and Twum Frank failed to find the back of the net which kept the scoreline to 1-0.
However, after the match, both coaches, Abahani's Ali Akbar and BJMC's Jakaria Babu dwelled on the refereeing than the features of the game.
“I'm sorry BFF, this is not football. The referee (Abdul Hanna Miron) denied us two penalties. If this referee continues, I may go back,” said an indignant Ali Akbar. His opposite number Jakaria Babu, though conceded his players played poorly, said the refereeing was poor to say the least and that he slows the game by whistling too many times.
Meanwhile, Congolese striker Siyo Zunapio struck twice to ensure Farashganj Sporting Club got their first win of the season as they defeated Feni Soccer Club 2-1 at the Bhasha Shaheed Abdus Salam Stadium in Feni yesterday.
The home side were given an 18th minute lead by forward Maksudul Alam Bubul but Zunapio restored parity in the 32nd minute from a penalty.
The Congolese striker then scored the second in the 39th minute to seal the victory which took the old Dhaka outfit to four points from 4 matches while Feni remain at the bottom with two points from the same number of matches.