Mohammedan Sporting Club’s hope of tasting their maiden Bangladesh Premier League title faded when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Wednesday. Despite the result the Black and Whites moved to second position of the points table with 31 points from 16 matches, a yarning gap of eight points with table toppers Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.
Jamal now need only six points from their last four matches to retain the league title while Muktijoddha remained at sixth with 22 points from the same number of outings.
Guinean striker Ismail Bangoura scored his 14th goal of the campaign to give Mohammedan the lead in the 24th minute by placing the ball from the goal-mouth melee following a free-kick of Sohel Rana Junior.
The lead was cancelled out 10 minutes later when Enamul converted a penalty to score his 11th goal of the league after Nigerian defender Eleta Benjamin Jr brought him down inside the box.
Mohammedan keeper Ashraful Haq Rana made a stunning save to deny Enamul’s diving header following a Faisal Mahmud cross from left in the added time of first half.
After the resumption, Mohammedan pressed hard to find a winner.
In the 78th minute midfielder Mohammad Ibrahim couldn’t keep his attempt into the post after receiving a neat cross from Jewel Rana.
Winger Mobarak Hossain, came off the bench, tried to initiate some attacks with his pace but his efforts went in vein due to lack of finishing touches.
In the day’s other match at the M A Aziz Stadium in Chittagong, hosts Chittagong Abahani earned a crucial 1-0 win over Rahmatganj MFS, thanks to their Cameroonian midfielder Yoko Samnick for his winning strike in the 78th minute.
The Port City outfits have now 10 points from 15 matches, five points ahead of bottom side Farashganj while Rahmatganj remained in ninth position with 11 points from the same number of outings.
-With New Age input
