MSC back with a bang
Mohammedan striker Robin races past Arambagh defender Akram (L) during their B. League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.Photo: STAR
A first minute goal by Nasir Hossain inspired Mohammedan Sporting Club to dump Arambagh 3-0 in the second round of the Citycell B. League yesterday.
After the opening round's dull 1-1 draw against Chittagong Abahani, league runners-up Mohammedan produced a much better display on a rain-soaked pitch and could have had won by a bigger margin.
But Alamu Bukola failed to add to Hedayetullah Robin and Arman Aziz's goals as the Nigerian missed a second half penalty at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Mohammedan were playing in their second choice green strip but the organisers should have not allowed such a shirt as numbers were printed in black on dark surface, giving the spectators no chance to read from afar.
However, even before the players' jerseys got smeared, Mohammedan were leading 1-0 when Nasir scored his maiden professional league goal in only the second appearance.
Faisal Mahmud chipped in the ball from the left and Robin's smashing volley deflected off a defender to Nasir who pushed home from close.
Mohammedan coach Maruf Ahmed, who seemed to be a bit confused about a starting line-up even after seven matches including six in the Federation Cup, once again tried a new combination and it proved fruitful against Arambagh, who were playing their first match after getting a bye in the fist round.
Arman Aziz, who missed the first game due to injury, got the armband in absence of captain Jewel Rana and Maruf for the first time this season, used a flat-four backline instead of five.
The four-man midfield, featuring Faisal Mahmud at left and fullback Nasir at the right flank, won almost everything and they provided another chance in the 13th minute for Robin to finish.
After Egyptian midfielder Hazem Khaled tested rival goalkeeper Piru from long range, Bukola's defence splitting through picked up fellow striker Robin, who dodged Akram before drilling in a low drive to double the lead.
Robin and Rajani failed to make most of two chances before Arambagh took their first shot on Aminul's goal. But Sirajul's angled shot game the Mohammedan goalie no trouble in the 20th minute.
Youngster Turjo, who looked promising at the right flank, then set a lob for Nicodemus but the Kenyan forward headed wide of the Mohammedan goal seven minutes later.
Bukola, top scorer in Mohammedan's triumphant Federation Cup campaign earlier this month, remained subdued and wasted chances created by Faisal and Nasir before the break.
Mohammedan, who pushed their collection to four points after two games, got their third goal seven minutes after resumption following two successive corners.
Hazem chipped the ball from the right corner and Arman Aziz, unmarked in the middle of the box, got it off Robin's back-header. The stand-in Mohammedan captain's low drive deflected off Arambagh centre-back Shahjada and into the back of the net, giving no chance to Piru and Sirajul standing on the line.
Bukola, who scored Mohammedan's injury-time equaliser against Chittagong Abahani four days earlier from a penalty, fluffed two great chances to make it 4-0 on the hour.
First, his effort after a solo run was saved by the onrushing Arambagh keeper but referee Abdul Hannan Miron surprisingly awarded a penalty to the Dhaka giants as Bukola -- after delivering his shot -- fell to the ground under pressure from Akram.
Piru, however, dived to right and saved the Nigerian's weak shot from the spot.
Arambagh opened up Mohammedan's defence twice halfway through the second half but Nicodemus rattled the sidebar with a header on Turjo's cross before watching Aminul parry his volley from the top of the box.
Yellow card: Saikat (Mohammedan)
TEAMS
MOHAMMEDAN: Aminul (Himel), Hassan Al Mamun. Saikat, Rajani, Kamal, Nasir, Arman, Hazem (Maruf), Faisal (Komol), Bukola and Robin.
ARAMBAGH: Piru, Moni, Kaba, Akram, Shahjada (Tutul), Turjo, Imrul, Moloy, Sirajul, Nicodemus and Tabith (Weah).
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