A very late controversial 93rd minute penalty by Zahid Hasan Emily rescued Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited from defeat in their opening Bangladesh Premier League match when they played out a 1-1 draw with Muktijoddha SKC at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
After a goalless opening half, Nigerian forward Nkwocha Kingsley put Muktijoddha ahead in the 86th minute which was cancelled out by Emily in the last minute of the added time.
Both the goals created controversy. Nkwocha Kingsley pushed his marker Baybeck inside the penalty area to score the opener, which Mohammedan claimed should be a foul. On the other hand, Muktijoddha claimed that Jahid Hossain dived after being tackled bt Eleta Benjamin to earn the penalty.
Despite plenty of attacks from both sides throughout the game, the goal finally came just four minutes before the stipulated time. Maruf Ahmed provided a long ball from the half-way line that fell inside the d-box. Nigerian forward Nkwocha Kingsley outmuscled Mohammedan’s Cameroonian defender Baybeck Fombagne to take control of the ball and placed the ball past the keeper into the net. Mohammedan players appealed for a foul but referee Mizanur Rahman was unmoved.
The Federation Cup runners-up Muktis could not have the last laugh as a controversial penalty in injury time evened the score. Jahid broke into the penalty area and before his final touch, Nigerian defender Eleta Benjamin brought him down. Emily stepped up and equalized the margin for the Black and Whites.
Earlier, Mohammedan fielded an attacking line-up, with forwards Emily, Wahed, Mostafa Seddik all in the starting 11. Muktijoddha, however, put on a solid defence to see the first half out without conceding a goal.
In the 34th minute, Muktijoddha keeper Rasel Mahmud Liton produced a decent save to a Jahid Hossain cross before it reached Seddik. Four minutes later, Zahid Hasan Emily volleyed the ball over the bar from the box after Eleta Benjamin’s cleared Jahid’s cross.
Muktijoddha probably had the best opportunity to take the lead in the first half. Just two minutes before the break, Egyptian forward Mostafa Md Seddik elegantly turned to dodge past a Muktis defender but his weak shot went straight into the gloves of the keeper.
Two minutes later, former national forward Enamul Hoque wasted a chance as he fired the ball over the crossbar from the top of the box.
Mohammedan posted more attacking threats after the resumption. They made several attacks between 60 and 70 minute mark, but none of them ended with a shot on target.
Match Highlights
Mohammedan SCL 1-1 Muktijoddha SKC
34” Muktijoddha keeper Rasel Mahmud Liton produced a decent save from a Jahid Hossain cross before it reached to Seddik.
38” Zahid Hasan Emily volleyed the ball over the bar from the box after Eleta Benjamin’s cleared Jahid’s cross.
43” Egyptian forward Mostafa Md Seddik did a lovely turn to doze a Muktis defender but his weak shot went straight to the lap of the keeper.
45” After receiving a square pass from Biplob, Enamul fired a shot over the bar from the top of the box.
77” Mintu Sk made a brilliant clearance after Nochowach Kingsley square-pass allowed Eleta Kingsley to put the ball in the middle.
GOAL! 86” Maruf’s long ball from halfway fell inside the box. Nkwocha Kingsley outmuscled Baybeck to take control of the ball and sent the ball past the keeper.
GOAL! 90+” Eleta Benjamin brought down Jahid inside the penalty area. Emily stepped up and equalized the margin.
