Mohammedan SC enjoyed their best start to a professional league in recent years with a 5-0 thrashing of Chittagong Abahani in the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The traditional black and whites, who’s biggest win ever dates back to 2010, a 7-0 victory against Arambagh, rode on the brace from Guinean forward Ismael Bangoura and a goal apiece from Towhidul Alam Sobuj, Masuk Mia Jony and Arup Baidya.
The opening half did not consist much threat from the eventual winners as Mohammedan appeared disorganised and almost conceded in the 25th minute. The port city’s forward Sumon Ali struck the sidepost from the six-yard box and lost the opportunity of piling more pressure on their Dhaka opponents.
It seemed Mohammedan players were given a “magic tonic” during the breather as they appeared more as a unit and dominated Abahani from the start of second half. Sobuj was just an inch away from netting the opener from a chip over onrushing Abahani goalkeeper Ershad, but Prodip Barua’s goalline clearance saved the scare just five minutes after re-start.
The resurgence eventually paid off as Mohammedan annihilated Abahani in the next 11 minutes by scoring three times. Bangoura’s cool headed finish in the 59th minute, Sobuj’s elegant strike in the 66th and Jony’s timely poke in the 70th minute left Abahani shattered.
The juggernaut continued with Bangoura making it 4-0 from a rebounder before he paved the way for Arup in the stoppage time with a neat square pass.
Later in the second match on the day, Brothers Union and Team BJMC played out a goalless draw. Both sides squander couple of simple chances to take the lead but some compact defending saw the teams share the points.
