Mohammedan one win away from maiden BPL title

Mohammedan SC are just one win away from the coveted title of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), as the popular Black and Whites handed an emphatic 4-1 defeat to bottom-placed Chittagong Abahani at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla yesterday.

With their 12th win in 15 matches, Mohammedan SC are now very close to tasting their maiden professional football league title, requiring only one win from their remaining three matches.

The Motijheel-based outfit secured 38 points from 15 matches -- 10 points more than second-placed Abahani, who have played one match fewer than Mohammedan.

However, Mohammedan could celebrate their maiden title triumph today, subject to Abahani's defeat to Fortis FC in today's match.

In Cumilla, although hosts Mohammedan SC came into the match on the back of a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Fortis FC, they got off to a fine start against the already-relegated Chittagong Abahani. Captain Souleymane Diabate broke the deadlock in the 30th minute with a tap-in on a low square pass from Venezuela's Edward Morillo, while Nigerian forward Emmanuel Sunday doubled the lead in the 45th minute with a powerful drive from 25 yards.

Uzbek midfielder Muzaffarov Muzaffarjon made it 3-0 one minute into the second half with a stunning curling shot from outside the box, while Sunday wrapped up the victory with a drive on the hour mark after Edward put a long ball behind the Chittagong Abahani backline.

Chittagong Abahani, however, pulled one back in the 74th minute when Redwan Hussain Sumon scored with a glancing header on a Nayan cross from the right flank.

In the day's other matches, defending champions Bashundhara Kings suffered their fourth defeat of the league, losing 1-0 to Bangladesh Police at Bashundhara Kings Arena.

Dipok Roy netted the winner in the second half to help Bangladesh Police climb to fifth position, despite having 23 points -- equal with Brothers Union, who occupy fourth place by virtue of goal difference after registering an easy 4-1 win over Fakirerpool Young Men's Club. Five-time champions Bashundhara Kings remained in third position with 25 points from 15 matches.