Abahani Limited returned to winning ways after five games when they defeated Feni Soccer Club 2-1 in the Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Wednesday. The sky-blue outfit, who are in second place in the league, last registered a victory on January 28 against Uttar Baridhara and after that they drew three matches in a row and lost their first match of the second phase against Brothers Union five days ago.
After suffering two consecutive defeats to Mohammedan Sporting Club (Independence Cup semi-final) and Brothers they were in a must-win situation. And Abahani did that in style with the inclusion of Sierra Leone forward, Umaru Mustapha, in place of out-of-form Ghanaian forward Usei Morrison.
By pairing with Portuguese playmaker Leonildo Soares, Mustapha put pressure to the opposition defence from the beginning of the match.
Soares had a chance to put his side ahead in the second minute when, after receiving a pass from Awudu Ibrahim, the Portuguese entered the box but saw his shot blocked by Feni keeper Nehal.
Soares again frustrated Abahani fans in the seventh minute as he received a defence-splitting through pass from Mustapha and took a shot
from inside the box but Nehal produced another clever save to deny the Portuguese.
Midfielder Jamal Hossain put Abahani ahead in the 22nd minute as he made no mistake to put the ball into the net from Awudu Ibrahim’s cross.
Landing Darboe, the Gambian midfielder, restored parity for Soccer Club in the 42nd minute with a brilliant 25-yard free-kick.
Abahani keeper Shahidul Alam produced a magnificent save in the 73rd minute as he fisted the ball away from Gambian forward Mathew Mendy.
Abahani winger Towhidul Alam, who came on for Jamal Hossain in the 70th minute, sealed the victory in the 83rd minute after a brilliant work from Soares.
The Portuguese dribbled past a defender before giving a low cross into the penalty box from the right flank and unmarked Towhidul tapped home into an empty net.
With this win, Abahani reduced the margin in the points table with table-toppers Sheikh Jamal to five points. They now have earned 22 points from 11 matches.
On the other hand, Feni Soccer failed to continue their winning run and remained eighth on their previous seven points in 10-team league.
RESULT
Abahani Ltd 2 (Jamal 22, Towhidul 83) v Feni Soccer Club 1 (Landing 42)
-With New Age input
