Defending champions Abahani Limited got back to winning ways as they beat Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad KC 2-0 in their Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka Monday.
Muktijoddha’s Ivory Coast recruit Ballo Famoussa scored an own goal in the 30th minute before Abahani’s Nigerian striker Sunday Chizoba scored in 69th minute to seal the match.
Abahani, who tasted defeat in their last match against another strong contender Bashundhara Kings 3-0, got back in rhythm as they started to dominate the proceedings in the match on Monday from the beginning.
Nabib Newaz Jibon headed a long throw of Rayhan Hassan in the eighth minute of the game but that deflected off their teammate Rubel Miah to deprive the men in sky-blue. Chizoba produced a powerful shot five minutes later just to see it go over the post.
But Famoussa, who scored a hat-trick in Muktijoddha’s 3-0 win against Sheikh Jamal, go from hero to villain as his clearance of a Rayhan corner was slotted in their own net.
Abahani became even more aggressive to extend the lead in the second half but a powerful header of Topu Barman off a Wali Faisal cross was brilliantly saved by a diving Arifuzzaman Himel in the 60th minute.
But Chizoba’s left-footed curving shot off Haitian Kerven’s Belfort was impossible for Himel to stop as Abahani took an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Earlier in the day, Rahamatganj Muslim Friends Society held last year’s runners-up Jamal 2-2 through a last minute goal at the same venue.
Rahamatganj’s Congolese striker Sio Junapio opened the scoring in the eighth minute but Jamal’s Gambian recruit Soloman King equalized in the 40th minute through a splendid bicycle kick before Argentine striker Luciano Araya gave them the lead in the 83rd minute.
Just when Jamal, who lost both of their first two games, seemed to cruise towards a victory, Nigerian defender Monday Osagie scored the equalizer for Rahamatganj from a Junapio cross.
The old-Dhaka outfit must also thank their goalkeeper Ariful Islam for salvaging the point as he dived to his left to save the penalty shot of Solomon King in the 20th minute.
