Both Abahani Limited and Muktijoddha Sangshad Krira Chakra squandered an opportunity to take a solo lead in the Bangladesh Premier League when they shared one point each with a 1-1 draw at the Rafikuddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh. Nigerian forward Sunday Chizoba put Abahani ahead with a neat header in the first half before Muktijoddha defender Manjur Rahman Manik’s header levelled the margin in the second half.
With the draw, Abahani, Muktijoddha and Chittagong Abahani are jointly sharing the top of the points table with eight points after four games.
In the absence of English playmaker Lee Andrew, who didn’t travel to Mymensingh due to suspension, Abahani straggled a lot to take the control of the midfield .Lee’s replacement Hemanta Vincent Biswas, who featured in the league for the first time in the season, seemed shaky.
Veteran midfielder Pranotosh Kumar Das also failed to fulfill the gap which gave Muktijoddha some room to create attacks.
However, Abahani took the lead in the 13th minute when Sunday tapped home a low free-kick of Emon Babu from the right flank.
Muktijoddha could level the margin just a minute later when Nigerian forward Ahmed Kolo Musa saw his header on a Towhidul Alam Sabuj cross missed the target.
Muktijoddha boosted their midfield in the later part of the first half and they got the result just two minutes after the break. Manik nicely headed on a Mobarak Hossain Bhuiyan’s cross from right flank to bring back the parity.
Muktijoddha’s substitute forward Javed Khan wasted a clear chance to give his side full three points in the added time of second half.
Kolo Musa availed a defensive fumble by Topu Barman and made a powerful grounder but Abahani keeper Shahidul Alam Sohel made a dive to his left to save it and Javed saw his effort in the rebound hit the woodwork.
RESULT
Abahani Limited 1 (Sunday Chizoba 13) v Muktijoddha Sangshad KC 1 (Manjur Rahman Manik 48)
-With New Age input
