Brazilian midfielder Wellington de Souza Lima scored a hat-trick as Muktijoddha Sangsad KC regained their top spot in the Bangladesh Premier League with a 4-1 win over Arambagh Krira Sangha on Thursday.
Apart from the treble by Lima, Ariful Islam scored the other goal for Muktijoddha while Benjamin Cooper of Arambagh scored the consolation for his side in the match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Muktijoddha dominated their bottom-of-the-table opponents from the very beginning but had to wait until the last minute of the first half
for the opener when Lima’s free-kick from 35 yards out flew into the top-right corner of Arambagh post.
The Brazilian doubled the lead with a curling long-range shot in the 59th minute.
Arambagh’s Liberian forward Cooper reduced the margin, heading home a Khalid Ahmed cross six minutes later but the goal was not enough to bring Arambagh back in the match.
Wellington completed his first hat-trick of the season with a fierce grounder from outside the penalty area in the 81st minute before Mamun made it 4-1, lobbing the ball over Arambagh goalkeeper Biplob Kumar Bishnu from Nasir Uddin’s square pass just three minutes before the long whistle.
With this win Muktijoddha, who had lost their top position in the points table after a 2-1 loss against Brothers Union in their sixth match of the league, moved back to the top with 30 points from 14 matches.
Abahani Limited, who are on equal 30 points but have playing a match less, are second on goal difference.
Arambagh’s relegation fears have increased as they sit ninth in the points table with only 10 points.
-With New Age input
