Defending champion Dhaka Abahani Limited registered their sixth consecutive victory to move jointly at the top of the Bangladesh Premier League points table after edging Arambagh Krira Sangha 1-0 in their 18th round match at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka Tuesday.
The victory allowed the Sky Blues to move jointly at the top of the standing, alongside Chittagong Abahani Limited, who suffered a shocking defeat at the hand of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra in the day's second game at the same venue.
Nigerian striker Sunday Chizoba continued his fine form by scoring the all-important goal in the late stage of the opening half. It was Sunday's fifth goal in his last six matches, which includes a couple of braces against Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited and Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society.
With only four more rounds to play, Abahani are now joint top with 42 points from 18 games while Arambagh moved down to ninth with 15 points from the same number of outings.
Sunday went agonisingly close to opening the scoring at the half-hour mark but Arambagh goalkeeper Azam Khan denied the Nigerian striker's header with a diving save at the goal-line. The Nigerian forward however, soon put the Sky Blues ahead in the 43rd minute placing home calmly past the onrushing keeper after controlling Saad Uddin's cross from the right side.Sunday was the league's top-scorer last season with 19 goals but couldn't play 11 matches in the first phase this year due to injury. He rejoined the club from the start of the second phase and has already scored six goals in seven matches.
Meanwhile, joint leader Chittagong Abahani conceded a shocking 2-0 defeat against Muktijoddha. This is the port city club's second defeat in 18 rounds in the league this season.
Chittagong Abahani's only defeat came at the hand of Abahani on October 13 this year and since then, they have scored 11 goals conceding only two. The three vital points helped Muktijoddha climb two places away from the relegation zone as they are now 10th with 14 points.
After a barren first half, defender Shafiqul Islam Bipul stunned Chittagong Abahani by taking the lead in the 55th minute heading home following a corner by Shamol Ahmed Rony. Nigerian forward Magalan Awala sealed Muktis' fourth league win in the 89th minute sending the ball into an empty net from almost 35 yards having found the onrushing Chittagong Abahani keeper Ashraf Islam Rana far away from the d-box.RESULTSAbahani 1 (Sunday 43) 0 ArambaghCtg Abahani 0 2 Muktijoddha (Bipul 55, Awala 89)
WEDNESDAY'S MATCHESFarashganj v Rahmatganj, 4:30pmBrothers v Sheikh Jamal, 6:45pmBoth the games will be held at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka
Monday, March 24, 2025
