Guinean striker Ismail Bangoura slammed a hat-trick to propel Mohammedan to a 5-0 thrashing over Rahmatganj in the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The traditional crowd-pullers tasted their first win after two consecutive draws and rose to second in the 11-team points table with 17 points from nine matches, six less than table-toppers and holders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club who have played a game more. Rahmatganj on the other hand are seventh with eight points from nine matches.
Bangoura, who is the second highest scorer in the top-flight this season with eight goals, continued his fine form while Towhidul Alam Sabuj and juvenile winger Sohel Rana were also on the score-sheet.
Bangoura put the Black and Whites ahead in the 23rd minute after fine work by Jewel. The midfielder received a long ball at the far post and headed towards the path of Bangoura, who chested the ball down and volleyed home past Rahmatganj goalkeeper Al Amin.
It was Bangoura again who doubled the lead just two minutes later, heading the ball into the back of the net following a Nurul Naim Faisal cross from the left flank.
The selfless Jewel was instrumental behind every Mohammedan attack and the pacey winger duly got his rewards as he extended the lead at the half-hour mark. Jewel unleashed a powerful strike from the left corner of the box, leaving Al Amin helpless.
Sabuj made it 4-0 15 minutes from time while Bangoura completed his hat-trick and the rout in the 87th minute.
The victory, however, gave birth to controversy as it violated the by-laws and regulations of the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League. The original fixture was earlier abandoned after just seven minutes due to heavy rain last Friday. The by-laws state that the match should have resumed from the seventh minute but to everyone’s surprise, the game started from the very beginning. Match referee Jalal Uddin claimed that he had received instructions from match commissioner Rafiqul Ahmed to start the game from the first minute.
Rafiqul, however, defended himself saying he was forced by the co-chairman of the professional league committee, Abdur Rahim, to instruct the referee to officiate the game for the full duration of the 90 minutes.
It was learned that the Rahmatganj officials are planning to protest the decision.
Meanwhile in the day’s other match at the same venue, Augustine Walson netted a brace to guide Brothers Union to a comfortable 3-1 victory over Feni Soccer Club. Courtesy the victory, Brothers moved to fourth in the points table with 17 points from nine matches, the same as third-placed Abahani and Mohammedan, who have both played the same number of matches as the Oranges.
Soccer Club, meanwhile, are eighth with eight points from nine matches.
In-form Haitian striker Walson opened the scoring for the Oranges in the 29th minute before midfielder Azmal Hossain Bidyut brought parity just two minutes later. Nigerian forward Kester Akon gave Brothers the lead again in the 62nd minute before Walson scored again to complete the win in injury time. With nine goals from as many matches, Walson is now the highest scorer of the top-flight.