Mohammedan Sporting Club’s Portuguese manager Rui Batista tasted his first win as the Black and Whites coasted to a 2-0 victory over Team BJMC in the Bangladesh Premier Football League on Wednesday at Bangabandhu National Stadium. This was Mohammedan’s first victory after two consecutive draws against Muktijoddha Sangsad and Uttar Baridhara while Team BJMC went down to their second defeat in three matches.
National footballers Wahed Ahmed and Zahid Hossain ensured three points for their side while Team BJMC are yet to add to their tally after winning their opening game of the campaign.
Guinean recruit Ismail Bangoura and Cameroon’s Jean Jules Ikanga did not play Team BJMC’s last game against Muktijoddha due to outstanding wages but Bangoura returned for the tie against Mohammedan.
However, Bangoura proved to be ineffective throughout the whole game.
Mohammedan on the other hand could have easily added to the 2-0 scoreline were it not for Team BJMC goalkeeper Arifuzzaman Himel, who kept the opposition attackers at bay with some outstanding saves.
Himel’s first save came in the 18th minute when he pushed away a 20-yard shot from Mohammedan’s Egyptian midfielder Mostafa Seddik.
In the 27th minute, Himel again came to his side’s rescue when Mohammedan forward Wahed crossed to Mostafa but the unmarked Egyptian’s effort was parried by the onrushing Himel.
Mohammedan though were not to be denied for long as Wahed made it 1-0 when he scored from inside the box following a precise Zahid cross from the left flank.
Wahed almost made it 2-0 in the 24th minute when he was set up by Zahid but Himel got the better of the former in a one-on-one situation.
Team BJMC started the second half in an attacking mood but failed to equalise from a couple of opportunities.
In the 82nd minute, Zahid made the tie safe when he doubled Mohammedan’s lead after chipping the ball over Himel from the edge of the box to the back of the net.
After three matches each, Mohammedan now had five points while Team BJMC were stuck on three.
Earlier, the first game of the day between Chittagong Abahani and Uttar Baridhara, the two promoted sides, ended in a goalless draw.
Meanwhile, Abahani Limited managed a 3-1 victory over Muktijoddha on Tuesday with Ghanaian forward Awudu Ibrahim netting a brace and Osei Morison grabbing the other goal. Muktijoddha’s Nigerian marksman Eleta Benjamin notched the consolation goal.
Abahani garnered seven points from three games while from the same number of games, Muktijoddha accumulated four points.
BROADCAST
Mohammedan SC 2 (Wahed 28, Jahin Hossain 82) v Team BJMC 0
-With New Age input
