Kings, Abahani keep winning
Title contenders Bashundhara Kings and Abahani continued their winning run in the Bangladesh Premier League with victories in second round of matches at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Defending champions Kings handed a 2-1 defeat to Bangladesh Police FC before runners-up Abahani blanked Brothers Union 2-0.
Despite the absence of key players like striker Nabib Newaj Jibon and Brazilian playmaker Raphael Augusto, six-time champions Abahani, who had struggled to a 1-0 win against Bangladesh Police in their first match, eased past Brothers Union. The Sky Blues have not lost against Brothers since their 1-0 defeat in 2014.
Brazilian forward Francisco Rodrigues gave Abahani a 34th-minute lead converting a spot-kick after Brothers defender Monday Osagie brought down Rubel Mia inside the box. Kervens Belfort doubled Abahani's lead in the 40th minute with a powerful shot on a square-pass from Rubel Mia.
In the day's first match, Bashundhara Kings ensured they did not repeat last season's performance when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bangladesh Police. Yesterday, the defending champions took early control of the game and pressed hard for the lead which came in the 16th minute. Brazilian Robson da Silva found the back of the net with a powerful diagonal shot from inside the box after Police goalkeeper Mohammad Nehal brilliantly stopped a drive from Raul Becerra.
After conceding the lead, Police woke up from their slumber and got the equaliser when defender Lancine Toure rose high to nod home a free-kick from Murolimzhon Akhmedov in the 42nd minute. Goalkeeper Nehal kept Police in the game by denying Mohammad Ibrahim in the stoppage time but he could not stop Robson from scoring in the next minute.
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