Reigning champions Abahani suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat to a ten-men Team BJMC in the resumption match of the Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The defeat may prove very costly for the defending champions, as they are all but out of the title race with one match left to play. Abahani remained on 29 points, four points behind the table leaders Sheikh Russell, who still have two matches in hand. Abahani would have to their last match against Muktijoddha, while Sheikh Russell loses its last two games for the men in sky-blue to have any chance of defending their title. As per the by-laws, the title is scheduled to be decided in a play-off, not goal difference, if two teams are tied on points at the top of the table. Abahani were handicapped in the match, missing four key defenders - Md. Shujon, Ghanaian Samad Youssif, Atikur Rahman Mishu and Cameroonian holding midfielder Yoko Samnik - due to injury. Abahani’s defence appeared to be a smooth runway for the BJMC attackers. Charged up by midfielder Abdullah Parvez, who tore apart the Abahani defence with his left foot prowess, BJMC stamped their authority from the very beginning. Ardheshir Pournemat, the Iranian coach of Abahani, put forward Twum Frank in the center of the defence but the move was largely ineffective. Later, he inserted Shwakat Russell for midfielder Arman Aziz but BJMC were already two goals up by then. Still the scenario would have been changed if Awudu Ibrahim’s 25 yard scorcher had not bounced back from the BJMC crosspiece in the 15th minute. Team BJMC went up in the 16th minute after midfielder Abdullah Parvez sent a chip to an advancing Toklis and the in-form forward hit the far post net with an angular shot. Ismael Bangoura, BJMC’s Guinean forward, doubled the margin in the 30th minute after Toklis set him free with a neat square pass. Bangoura just had to tap the ball in. Toklis hit his second in the 42nd minute after taking advantage of a lapse in defence, when Mokhlesur Rahman’s cut back was not properly cleared by Abahani defender Shawkat Russell. Toklis, taking control of the ball, placed the ball into the middle of the net (3-0). BJMC midfielder Omar Faruk Babu was sent off in the 46th minute after receiving his second yellow card for a foul on Awudu Ibrahim. BJMC inserted heavy artillery in their territory and the Abahani forwards hardly found any free spaces to pull something out. However Shakhawat Rony reduced the margin in the 77th minute with a volley on Abdul Baten Majumdar Komol cross, but it was just mere consolation before the final dejection. With the win BJMC raised their standing to 23 points from 15 matches.
Monday, April 28, 2025
