A first-half goal by Ghanaian striker Osei Morrison was enough for Abahani Limited to earn a vital 1-0 victory over arch rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited in the Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Following a blunder from Mohammedan defender Mintu Sk, Osei Morrison, the top scorer in the premier league last season, scored the all important goal in the 17th minute, although the Ghanaian missed the easiest of chances in the injury time to extend Abahani’s lead after Yoko Samnick missed a penalty in the 89th minute.
However, the traditional Sky Blues are enjoying their fine form in the league as they remain the only unbeaten team along with table toppers Sheikh Jamal DC. After beating, Abahani secured their fifth victory over arch rivals Mohammedan in seven editions of the professional league. With 10 points from four matches, Abahani remain in second position, two points behind Sheikh Jamal.
On the other hand, Mohammedan’s frustration this season continued and with only one win out of four and they remained in fifth place with five points. Mohammedan were under the shadow of Abahani for most of the opening half, in which they failed to create any scoring chances. They tried to stage back in the second half putting and put more pressure on their opponents but their forwards were unimpressive as their final strikes mostly were off target.
Abahani had the first chance to go ahead seven minutes into the game when Mohammedan’s Cameroonian defender Bayebeck Fombagne pulled Morrison down just outside the box. The referee blew his whistle for a free kick and Awudu Ibrahim hit the ball straight into the wall.
It took Morrison 17 minutes to score his eighth goal of the season. The in-form Ghanaian striker took full advantage of a blunder from Mohammedan defender Mintu Sk. Atiqur Rahman Meshu delivered a lobbed pass inside the penalty area which Mintu failed to clear. Morrison received the ball and smashed it home past Mohammedan keeper Mamun Khan with his weaker left foot.
Mohammedan keeper Mamun Khan made a superb save to upset Towhidul Alam in the 36th minute. Mamun Khan dived to his right to fist away Towhidul’s header from a corner cross from Osei Morrison.
The Black and Whites had their first chance in the 56th minute. A nice build-up play from Mohammedan saw Egyptian forward Mostafa Seddik snatch a slipped ball from Sohel but he shot it over the bar.
Youngster Hemanta Vincent Biswas tried his luck in the 65th minute. Receiving the ball from a melee in the penalty area, the U-19 midfielder unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box that flew inches over the crossbar.
Abahani could have doubled the lead in the 89th minute when Yoko Samnick missed a penalty. Mamun Khan produced a brilliant save to deny the Cameroonian midfielder after Nahidul Islam fouled Osei Morrison inside the box to give Abahani the penalty.
The most bizarre incident of the match happened in injury time. Morrison, who scored 17 goals last season, snatched the ball from goalie Mamun outside the box, entered the penalty area and found the goalpost completely empty. He could have easily run the ball into the net but waited for the keeper to charge him before taking a shot that went to deflected off the keeper to Samnick, whose weak shot went wide.
Match Highlights
Mohammedan SCL 0-1 Abahani Limited
GOAL! 17” Osei Morrison put Abahani ahead, smashing the ball home past Mohammedan keeper Mamun Khan with his left foot.
36” Towhidul Alam’s header from a cross from Osei Morrison was saved by a diving Mamun Khan.
65” Hemanta unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box that flew inches over the crossbar.
89” Mamun Khan produced an excellent save to deny Yoko Samnick’s penalty. Nahidul Islam fouled Osei Morrison inside the box to give Abahani the penalty.
90+” A ridiculous act by Morrison. The Ghanaian striker failed to score with an empty net in front of him.
