Tensions soar in 1-1 stalemate
Mohammedan came from a goal down to get a share of the spoils with a 1-1 draw against Chattogram Abahani in a Bangladesh Premier League encounter at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
With a fifth draw from 10 games, Mohammedan climbed to fifth place with 16 points, one spot ahead of Chattogram Abahani, who have 16 points and a game in hand over the Black and Whites.
Mohammedan came into the match on the back of three successive victories but were halted by a spirited showing from Chattogram Abanani, who gave the Black and Whites a run for their money in a tense match.
As both sides showed attacking intent, the port city outfit's Nigeria recruit Chenedu Mathew ran down the right in the 15th minute and cut back for Brazil's Nixon, who saw his powerful shot parried by goalkeeper Sujan Hossain. Rakib drove the follow-up home.
After conceding, Mohammedan bounced back and launched two good attacks but forward Nagata and Suleymane Diabate squandered two good opportunities while Chattogram Abahani were deprived of doubling the lead when a free-kick from Rakib came off the crossbar in the 19th minute.
In the second half, Mohammedan finally came back into the match as Rakib Khan and Diabate linked-up in the 54th minute, entering the box with nice exchanges before Rakib levelled.
In the 61st minute, a scuffle broke out when a throw-in from Atikuzzaman of Mohammedan hit Rakib Hossain. Off the field, Mohammedan team manager Abu Hasan Chowdhury pushed Chattogram Abahani manager Arman Aziz, causing some hysteria in the crowd. The referee intervened and gave both officials their marching order. In the dying minutes, chaos again broke out in the gallery and police had to intervene to calm the spectators.
In the day's first match, Muktijoddha Sangsad surrendered a first half lead in a 1-1 draw with Rahmatganj.
Arafat Hossain cancelled out a first-minute strike from Muktijoddha's Mahmud Hossain Fahim in the 56th minute to ensure Rahmatganj would leave with a third draw in 10 outings. The stalemate also saw both sides raise their tally to 9 points, with the Old Dhaka Outfit ahead of 10th-placed Muktijoddha by virtue of better goal difference.
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