A goal by substitute striker Wahed Ahmed at the eleventh hour of the match helped Mohammedan Sporting Club salvage all three points with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Uttar Baridhara in the Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
It was a game full of wasted chances and just when it seemed the match would finish in a goalless stalemate - Wahed Ahmed, who replaced Zahid Hassan Emily at the beginning of second half, scored the all-important winning goal in the 90th minute to seal the victory for the men in Black and White. Arup Kumar Baidya set up the goal with a low cross from the right flank that found Wahed who was inexplicably unmarked at the second bar and the national striker tapped home into an empty net.
The victory helped Mohammedan reduce the gap with their arch-rival Abahani to only two points as they now sit third in the points table with 20 points from 11 matches.
After a dull first half, the men in Black and White were unlucky not to take the lead within 10 minutes into the second half where they created two great chances. In the 52nd minute, Portuguese forward Hardy Pinto’s diving header hit the woodwork and a minute later, Yousuf Sifat’s powerful goal bound shot was blocked by a Uttar Baridhara defender.
Uttar Baridhara midfielder Ahsanul Kabir Masud tried his luck with an audacious attempt from 25 yards which was saved brilliantly by Mohammedan keeper Mamun Khan. Nigerian striker Lucky Divine saw his shot sail over the bar from inside the middle of the box in the 64th minute.
Zongo’s close-range effort in the 70th minute was saved by Baridhara goalie Osman Goni, two minutes before Pinto’s header from an Arup Kumar cross flew inches over the bar.
In the end, Wahed stole the show with his late winner to win the match for his club.
