MSC overcome Muktijoddha

Ismael Bangoura converted two penalty kicks in the second half as Mohammedan Sporting Club bounced back from two goals down to beat Muktijoddha Sangsad 3-2 in an entertaining affair of the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The Guinean forward's brace and one by Mohammad Ibrahim ensured the Black and Whites their second win on the trot while Muktijoddha suffered their second successive defeat in a similar manner.

The result meant Mohammedan joined Muktijoddha on 12 points from six matches, six behind leaders Sheikh Jamal DC and one behind Abahani.

The Black and Whites had come into the match on the back of a 2-1 win over Farashganj and started the match with some brisk attacks but relinquished control once the All Reds found the back of the net twice within two minutes at the end of the first half.

The deadlock was broken in the 40th minute when Mohammad Biplob beat Mohammedan goalkeeper Mohammad Nehal with a placing shot after availing a defence-splitting pass from Enamul Haque. The latter then doubled the lead, notching his sixth goal of the league, toe-poking on the near post after Camara Sarba broke the off-side trap to put a low cross from the right side.

Mohammedan reorganised and unsettled the Muktijoddha defence with attacks from either flanks, and one such attack resulted in defender Nurul Nayeem Fasial handling the ball inside the box in the 55th minute. Bangoura stepped up to reduce the margin.

Mohammedan kept pressing and the equaliser came in the 80th minute when Ibrahim tapped in Jewel Rana's cross from close range.

Three minutes later, Bangoura won the second penalty decision in favour of the Black and Whites after he was pushed by Ashraful Karim inside the box.  The Guinean was once again on target as Mohammedan completed a brilliant comeback.

CTG ABAHANI TASTE FIRST WIN

Meanwhile, Chittagong Abahani tasted their first victory in five matches after a single-goal win over Rahmatganj MFS.

Sumon Ali scored the winning goal for Chittagong Abahani with a solo effort in the 18th minute of the match. The port-city forward unleashed a powerful diagonal shot from 30 yards out beating Rahamatganj goalie Samiul Islam Masum.