Thankgod hat-trick rescues Ctg Abahani

Ebimobowei Thankgod slammed the second hat trick of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League to salvage a point for his side as Chittagong Abahani equalised thrice to frustrate Saif Sporting Club with a 3-3 draw at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Flight Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj yesterday.

Abahani are now in fourth position while Saif occupy sixth position.

Meanwhile, in the day's other match at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj, two second-half strikes from Faisal Ahmed Shitol and Afghan striker Amiruddin Sharifi meant the visiting Bangladesh Police tasted their first victory in the league with a comfortable 2-0 win over hosts Uttar Baridhara.

Back to Munshiganj, Saif came into the match on the back of two successive defeats and took the initiative early as Sajjad Hossain struck in the fifth minute with a left-footed shot. Abahani hit back at the stroke of half-time with Thankgod converting a questionable penalty, awarded by referee Mizanur Rahman.

Following the interval, Emeka Ogbough restored Saif's lead by converting a penalty but Thankgod equalising in the 67th minute.

13 minutes later, Emeka turned scorline 3-2 in Saif's favour. The game headed to the nervous extra-time and two minutes into it, Thankgod managed to sneak the ball home from a goal-mouth melee.