Abahani Limited gave a perfect farewell to their outgoing coach George Kottan when they thrashed Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra 5-0 in the Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Thursday. In the day’s first match at the same venue, a last moment strike of substitute forward Mohammad Rony helped Brothers Union register a dramatic 3-2 win over Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra.
Nigerian forward Sunday Chizoba claimed his first hat-trick of the league to propel Abahani to a big win that also saw Nasirul Islam and Shahedul Alam scoring one goal apiece.
Abahani now moved to second position thanks to the win with 30 points from 15 matches, one point clear of Russell, who nevertheless have one game in hand.
It however took Abahani 40 minutes to break the deadlock as Nasirul Islam beat the offside trap before dinking over the Russell keeper Russell Mahmud to score.
Sunday Chizoba doubled the lead in the 55th minute, receiving a through pass from Abdul Baten Komol as Nigerian broke into the penalty area and wriggled past a defender to slot the ball home.
Shahed made it 3-0 in the 77th-minute with a thumping strike from the edge of the box.
Sunday completed his hat-trick by scoring two more goals in the last eight minutes.
Meanwhile in the day’s first match, Brothers Union came from behind to earn a 3-2 victory over a struggling Muktijoddha side.
Senegalese forward Camara Sarba put Muktijoddha ahead twice in the 13th and 34th minute but Brothers’ Nigerian captain Kester Akon cancelled out the lead on both occasions respectively in 18th and 83rd minute.
Substitute Roni sealed the victory for the Gopibag outfits in the injury time.
Muktijoddha are yet to win a single game in the second phase in five attempts that relegated them to sixth place. Brothers are now in the fourth place after day’s outcomes with 28 points from 15 matches.
RESULTs
Abahani Limited 5 (Nasir 40, Sunday 60, 82, 89, Shahed 77) v Sheikh Russell KC 0; Brothers Union 3 (Kester Akon 18, 83, Rony 90+) v Muktijoddha Sangsad KC 2 (Sarba 13, 34)
-With New Age input
