A stoppage-time penalty from veteran forward Zahid Hasan Ameli earned Mohammedan Sporting Club a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in the Bangladesh Premier Football League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday. The game looked headed for a 0-0 draw before Muktijoddha’s Nigerian forward Nkwocha Kingsley scored in the 85th minute only to be denied by the last-minute penalty conversion by the Mohammedan skipper.
Majority of the chances fell Mohammedan’s way but their forwards were guilty of slack finishing in the final third as both the sides had to be satisfied with a point each from their opening game.
The Black and White outfit registered their first opportunity in the 38th minute when national striker Ameli thumped a side-volley over the crossbar from a Zahid Hossain set-piece.
A few minutes later, Mohammedan’s Egyptian midfielder Mostafa Seddik dribbled past a Muktijoddha defender inside the box but his weak, left-footed shot hardly troubled the goalkeeper.
After resumption, Mohammedan became desperate to break the deadlock and came close on a few occasions through their attacking trio – Ameli, Wahed Ahmed and winger Zahid – but the Muktijoddha defenders obstructed them each time.
In the 63rd minute, Wahed almost gave his side the lead as he darted into the box with only the goalkeeper to beat but Muktijoddha’s Egyptian defender Elgilani Nagi tackled at just the right time to thwart Wahed.
Muktijoddha, on the other hand, went ahead against the run of play in the 85th minute.
Maruf Ahmed’s long-ball forward from the halfway line was received well by Kingsley inside the box. Kingsley outmuscled Mohammedan defender Baybeck and sent the ball flying past the custodian.
Zahid and Ameli though combined together to salvage a much-deserved point for the Motijheel side. Zahid was brought down by Nigerian defender Eleta Benjamin inside the penalty area and Ameli duly stepped up and converted the spot-kick to bring parity.
Muktijoddha coach Shafikul Islam Manik was furious with the last-minute penalty decision and blamed the referee.
‘It was not a penalty but the referee blew the whistle against us,’ said an angry Manik adding that, ‘Muktijoddha always seem to be on the receiving end of bad decisions by referees in the crucial stages.’
Mohammedan’s newly-recruited Portuguese coach Rui Capela Batista was content with a 1-1 draw in his first assignment.
‘I am happy with the performance of the team but we have to work hard with the team in the next one or two weeks and I am hopeful that the team will get better in the future,’ said Batista.
RESULT
Muktijoddha Sangsad 1 (Kingsley 86) v Mohammedan SC 1 (Ameli 90+3-P)
-With New Age input
