Local marksman Wahed Ahmed sealed an important 1-0 win for Mohammedan Sporting Club against arch-rivals Abahani Limited in their second meeting of the Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Sunday. The win ended a two-year long wait for Mohammedan for a league win against Abahani having recorded their last win in May 22, 2012.
Mohammedan, however, had had some successes against Abahani in the tournaments, most notably in the recent Independence Cup semi-final which they won by a solitary goal.
With the victory, Mohammedan reduced the gap with Abahani in the league table as they earned 23 points from 13 matches, two points behind the Sky-Blue outfit.
Abahani, on the other hand, failed to reduce the distance with the league leaders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who have 31 points from same number of matches.
Wahed, who scored his fifth goal of the league, including three in consecutive matches, sealed the victory by scoring against the run of play.
From the beginning to the end Abahani controlled the match, attacking on regular basis but their strikers failed to utilise any of the opportunities which cost them heavily as the Sky Blue outfit conceded second defeat in the league.
Abahani’s Portuguese forward Leonildo Suares wasted a golden chance in the 10th minute while he headed a Osei Morrison’s low cross which went over the bar from the six-yard box.
Jamal Hossain’s powerful strike from 25 yards in the 15th minute was brilliantly saved by Mohammedan keeper Titumir Titu.
Wahed utilised the first chance to put Mohammedan ahead in the 42nd minute.
After scoring against Uttar Baridhara and Team BJMC in the previous two matches, the local striker chipped the ball over the onrushing Abahani keeper Sohel from the right corner of the box following a lob by his Portuguese mate Hardy Pinto.
Mohammedan coach strengthened the defence after the resumption by sending on two defenders – Mintu Sheikh and Nahidul Islam – as replacement for Towhidul Alam Sabuj and Arup Baidya to keep up their lead.
Mohammedan keeper Titumir Titu produced a stunning save in the 65th minute when he dived to his right to thwart a curling 25-yard free-kick from Suares.
Abahani coach also made a couple of changes to
produce some extra force but their two Ghanaian strikers – Osei Morrison and Awudu Ibrahim – continued their bad form by wasting a series of scoring chances.
RESULT
Mohammedan SC 1 (Wahed 42) v Abahani Limited 0
-With New Age input
