Chattogram Abahani staged a remarkable comeback from three-goal deficit to claim their third straight win in the Bangladesh Premier League with a 4-3 victory over holders Bashundhara Kings at the Sheikh Kamal Stadium in Nilfamari on Sunday.
Daniel Colindres scored one and assisted other two to give the hosts 3-0 lead within an hour but the visitors rode on Nixon Brizolara's brace to equalize before Chinedu Mathew's 95th minute stunning winner sent them to the second place of the points table and handed the Bashundhara their first ever defeat at home.
The Kings, who lost only once in the league last season, conceded consecutive defeats for the first time after narrowly losing to Mohammedan away in Cumilla in the last match although earned a commanding 5-1 win over TC Sports in AFC Cup on Wednesday between the league games.
Akhtam Nazarov, the Tajikistan captain, who couldn’t make it to the AFC Cup squad, opened the scoring from a penalty in the 43rd minute after Colindres' brilliant run past three players put to an end by Rakib Hossain’s tackle from behind.
Nicholas Delmonte, who was brought back to center-back position replacing Yeasin Khan, doubled the lead in the added time after meeting a freekick of Colindres, who scored his own after the break with a superb finish in Baktyiar Duishobekov pass.
A very special #Sunday show puts #Abahani on top https://t.co/FWpiQVIKnt
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) March 15, 2020
Soon afterwards, the visitors netted a couple of goals- one from Didier Brossou header in the 64th minute followed by Nixon penalty in the span of two minutes to revive hopes for Maruful Haque. Nasirul Islam fed the ball for the first one while it was Nixon who earned the penalty from Topu Barman.
Mannaf Rabby, coming off the bench in the 77th minute replacing Monaem Khan Raju, threatened Bashundhara defence through the right side from counter and his crosses led to the next two goals with identical side-foot finish by Nixon and Mathew respectively.
The match was played without any spectator as the precaution against coronovirus, which is halting most sporting leagues in Europe and elsewhere. The players also avoided handshakes and shook their legs instead before starting the proceedings.
The port city outfits now have 13 points, equal with the league leader Dhaka Abahani, but the former are in the second position due to an inferior goal difference, while the reigning champions dropped to sixth place having 10 points from six matches.
Results
Bashundhara 3 (Nazarov 43’, Delmonte 45+’, Colindres 59’) – 4 Ctg Abahani (Didier 64’, Nixon 67’, 87’, Mathew 90+5’)