Abahani maintain stranglehold on MSC

Six-time champions Abahani once again established their supremacy over archrivals Mohammedan in the Bangladesh Premier League, handing the Black and Whites a 2-0 defeat in their first meeting of the season at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla yesterday.

It was a 15th triumph for Abahani in the 30 clashes with Mohammedan since the introduction of the professional football league in 2007. A fourth win from seven BPL matches this season also helped the Sky Blues close the gap with league leaders Bashundhara Kings, who are three ahead with 18 points. However, the Dhanmondi-based outfit have played a game more than the leaders.

After a 2-2 draw in their previous league match with Sheikh Russel, Abahani knew yesterday's clash would be pivotal to the title race.

Portuguese coach Mario Lemos' charges enjoyed the upper hand from the beginning and came close to taking the lead in the 10th minute but Eleta Kings could only guide his header into the gloves of goalkeeper Ahsan Habib Bipu.

However, Abahani broke the deadlock two minutes later when Nigerian forward Peter Nworah was set up by Daniel Colindres.

Mohammedan, who came into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw against Sheikh Jamal, began to press more intently but Shahidul Alam Sohel denied Uzbekistan's Mozaffarjon Mozaffarov from a free kick two minutes from the break.

After resumption, Abahani did not stray from their attacking mindset and were rewarded with a second goal in the 58th minute, when Colindres, despite losing his balance, drove home a long throw-in from Rahmat Mia home.

Despite trailing by two goals, Shafiqul Islam Manik's charges never looked like giving up. They launched numerous attacks, the best chance coming when a miscued header from Congolese striker Suleymane Diabate's slipped out of goalkeeper Sohel's hands in the 71st minute. Unfortunately, forward Sajjad Hossain's follow-up floated over.

12 minutes later, Mohammedan found another opportunity but midfielder Manik Mollah disappointingly drove wide from outside the box as his team left with a second defeat in their last three matches, sharply dropping down the table to eighth position with just six points.

In the day's other matches, Muktijoddha Sangsad got their first win with a 2-0 victory over Rahmatganj while newcomers Azampur FC Uttara also secured their first point by playing out a 1-1 draw against Chittagong Abahani.