Mohammedan’s third on the trot
Mohammedan notched a third straight victory in the Bangladesh Premier League with a 2-0 win over visitors Rahmatganj at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla yesterday.
The triumph helped the falling giants climb to fifth in the 13-team table with 15 points, 10 behind leaders Bashundhara Kings and six behind of archrivals Abahan. Rahmatganj remain glued to ninth with eight points from as many outings.
On the back of two wins over Bangladesh Police and Brothers Union, the Black and Whites got off to a fine start by taking the lead in the third minute when Souleymane Diabate, availing a long ball from Rakib Khan Evan, broke the offside trap and put his side ahead with his sixth league strike.
Rahmatganj regrouped and pressed in an attempt to equalise but failed, instead conceding another in stoppage time of the second half.
Forward Amir Hakim Bappy advanced into the box after availing a through pass from Farhat Mona and beat goalkeeper Rasel Mahmud Liton with a placed shot.
MUKTIJODDHA BEAT POLICE
At the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Muktijoddha Sangsad registered their second win in six matches when they handed a one-goal defeat to Bangladesh Police FC.
Financially-stricken Muktijoddha Sangsad, who recorded four consecutive defeats and a draw in their last five matches since their only victory over Arambagh in their second match, played comparatively better against a spirited Police FC, who could have left the field with a single point had they not missed a penalty in stoppage time of the second half.
Muktijoddha Sangsad squandered an easy opportunity to take the lead in the 22nd minute when their Japanese captain Yusuke Kato squandered a spot-kick after Cameroonian forward Christian Bekamenga was brought down by Lancine Toure.
However, Bekamenga broke the deadlock in the 41st minute with a header which was good enough to secure three points after Ballo Famoussa missed a penalty in the stoppage time.
CTG ABAHANI EDGE BROTHERS
Chattogram Abahani registered their third win after a five-game winless run when they handed a 1-0 defeat to Brothers Union under floodlights at the BNS. With a triumph in their ninth match, the port city outfit remain glued to sevenths with 12 points.
Manik Hossain Mollah scored the decisive goal in the 72nd minute. Brothers Union, on the other hand, remained in the red zone with one point from eight matches.