Ibrahim sinks Abahani

A last-gasp strike from teenage winger Mohammad Ibrahim helped Mohammedan SC to a 1-0 win against archrivals Abahani in their crucial encounter of Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The 18-year-old young forward from Cox's Bazar silenced the Sky Blues faithful, sending the other half of some 2000 fans into frenzy after his opportunist strike in the 90th minute decided the dour affair between the perennial rivals of Dhaka football. The young forward, who had played for Muktijoddha Sangsad's senior and junior teams last season, smashed the ball into the top corner of the net after a miscued header from Abahani defender Obam Henry on a free-kick from Mohammedan goalie Ashraful Islam Rana had fallen into his path inside the box.

Out of sheer ecstasy, Ibrahim stripped off his shirt and ran towards the touchline to the applause of Mohammedan supporters as the Abahani players were left to count the cost of a moment's lapse.

While the win lifted Mohammedan to second position on 20 points, three behind leaders Sheikh Jamal, Abahani slipped to fifth with 17 points. All the three sides have completed 10 matches of the first leg.

The match got off to a cagey start as both sides adopted a cautious approach. Abahani played a lot of miss passes and failed to find their rhythm while Mohammedan also failed to generate their usual speedy game. But things changed in the second half as both sides came out with all-out attacking approach, which yielded chances at either end.

Abahani was denied by the woodwork in the 47th minute when Osei Morison's powerful drive hit the crossbar before Jewel Rana almost gave Mohammedan the lead in the 67th minute. The young winger made a bursting run from the midfield and continued into the box, but his left- footed attempt sailed over the crossbar.

And as it looked like the first big clash of the league between these two perennial foes would end in a stalemate, which would not have helped either in their title charge, young Ibrahim sprang up to snatch a crucial win, making Abahani pay for Henry's miscued header.

“The players tried to play one or two passes and then played long ball instead of playing passing football. It seemed to me that they were playing in fear and could not create any chance throughout the game,” said a frustrated George Kottan, who termed the decider as an 'own goal'.

SHEIKH RUSSEL DROP POINTS

Meanwhile, Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra missed an opportunity to get within one point of leaders Sheikh Jamal DC after being held to a 1-1 draw by Rahmatganj MFS in the second match of the day.

The former champions, who started the day on 19 points from nine matches, took the lead in the first minute of stoppage time through a penalty conversion by Zahid Hasan Emily, who had earlier squandered a spot-kick in the 33rd minute. However, Rahmatganj substitute Mannaf Rabbi snatched the draw with a strike from the goalmouth scramble in the fifth minute of the added time.