Title aspirants Abahani Limited missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the top after succumbing to a 1-1 draw against second-from-bottom Chittagong Abahani in the Nitol Tata Bangladesh Premier League on Sunday at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The Sky Blues went ahead in the 10th minute through Cameroonian forward Ekele Patrick before Sohel Mia equalised for Chittagong Abahani five minutes from the final whistle.
Their third draw in eight matches led Abahani to 18 points, four ahead of second-placed Mohammedan Sporting Limited who have played a game more.
Chittagong Abahani will no doubt be the happier side of the two as they registered their first point after three consecutive defeats which enabled them to move to ninth with five points from nine matches in the 10-team table.
Before Sunday’s game, four-time top flight champions Abahani had an 8-0 win-loss record against Chittagong Abahani but Sohel’s dramatic equaliser meant the former had to be content with a point.
Abahani deservedly scored first after some early pressure as Ekele received a cross from the right flank delivered by Ghanaian Awudu Ibrahim. Ekele calmly slotted home with a placing shot.
Chittagong Abahani goalkeeper Nahid Uddin kept alive his side’s prospects as he prevented Abahani from surging ahead to a 2-0 lead when he punched away headed efforts from Arman Aziz and Abdul Baten in quick succession leading up to the equalising goal.
The port-city outfit then grabbed the equaliser against the run of play in the 85th minute when Sohel received a Javed Khan cross and sent a left-footer between the legs of Abahani custodian Shahidul Alam Sohel.
Abahani’s Iranian coach Ali Akbar expressed his disappointment with the two dropped points.
‘The players were warned not to take the match lightly but it seemed that they did it and it paid off. There were no build-up, ball possession and attacks from our side and I think the players have some mental problems and they are not yet fully professional,’ said a dejected Akbar.
-With New Age input
