Sunday powers Abahani

A brace from Nigerian marksman Sunday Chizoba powered Abahani to an emphatic 3-0 win over Feni Soccer Club in the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The seventh win in 12 matches meant four-time professional football league champions Abahani closed the gap with leaders Sheikh Jamal DC by four points as Abahani moved to the third position with 23 points while Sheikh Jamal have 27 points from 12 matches.

Fresh from a 2-0 win over Rahmatganj MFS, Abahani dominated the proceedings and created a few scoring chances in the first half but failed to cash in on any of those opportunities before Sunday, who also struck a brace against Rahmatganj MFS, proved his worth by netting another brace to rescue the Sky Blues.

Feni Soccer almost claimed a lead against the run of the play when a drop-header by Dawda Ceesay was tipped over the crossbar by Abahani goalkeeper Ziaur Rahman deep into the stoppage time of the first half and then Shohel Mia failed to put the ball on the open net one minute into the second half to frustrate Feni Soccer.

That might play as a wake-up call for Abahani, who finally wake up from their slumber to strike three goals within 11 minutes.

Sunday, availing a square pass from Shahedul Alam Junior, nicely placed the ball on the edge of the box in the 58th minute and doubled the lead with a powerful shot that braced into the net after hitting the inside of the crossbar in the 67th minute.

Away at MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong, hosts Chittagong Abahani came from behind to play out a 1-1 draw against visiting Muktijoddha Sangsad to collect first point on home ground.  

Muktijoddha Sangsad, who were travelling to Chittagong on the back of a goalless draw with Feni Soccer Club, went ahead in the 69th minute by a strike from Faisal Mahmud only to be canceled by new signing Choumrin Rakhaine in the 80th minute.

Meanwhile in the day's third match Sheikh Russel KC beat Brothers Union 3-1 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Sheikh Russel moved up to the fourth position with 23 points from 11 matches while Brothers slipped to the fifth position with previous 21 points from 12 matches.

Midfielder Hemanta Vincent Biswa gave Sheikh Russel a 27-minute lead with a placing shot before new signing Cameroonian midfielder Jean Jules Ikanga struck twice in the second half.