Grenadian forward Cornelius Stewart struck two minutes before the end as 10-man Abahani Limited edged past Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club 1-0 at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium in Gopalganj Friday.
The Sky Blues were reduced to a man less in the 38th minute when defender Riyadul Hasan Rafi received a straight red card for a risky tackle on former teammate Foysal Ahmed Fahim.
Cornelius collected the ball from Jonathan Fernandes before breaking into the left side of the box to hit the back of the net with a clinical finish in the 88th minute.
It was Abahani’s first win out of three matches in this season’s Bangladesh Premier League after they drew the opener and lost the last one.
Reigning champions Bashundhara Kings registered their third consecutive victory after outplaying Fortis FC 3-1 in the capital’s Kings Arena later on the day.
Rakib Hossain broke the deadlock in the ninth minute before Tariq Kazi’s own goal made things all square four minutes later, but Dorielton Gomez and Rimon Hossain’s goals in the 21st and 77th minute respectively mean the hosts remain on top of the table.
Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd handed Brothers Union a crushing 5-1 defeat at Muktijuddho Smrity Stadium in Rajshahi on the same day.
Malian striker Souleymane Diabate and Sunday Emmanuel netted a brace each while Uzbek midfielder Muzaffar Muzaffarov added the other.
The victory put the Black and Whites second in the standing with seven points from three matches.
Elsewhere, Samuel Konney cancelled out Yeasin Khan’s first-half strike after the break as Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society came from behind to hold Chittagong Abahani in Munshiganj.
RESULTS
Abahani 1 (Cornelius 88) Sheikh Jamal 0
Bashundhara Kings 3 (Rakib 9, Dorielton 21, Rimon 77) Fortis 1 (Tariq 13-og)
Mohammedan 5 (Diabate 28-P, 68, Muzaffarov 49, Sunday 60, 66) Brothers 1 (Nayan 78)
Rahmatganj 1 (Konney 55) Ctg Abahani 1 (Yeasin 34)