Muktis, Abahani share points
Leaders Muktijoddha Sangsad and holders Abahani shared honours in their first meeting of the season when they played out a goalless draw in the Grameenphone Bangladesh League match at the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur yesterday.
The first draw in seven matches meant Muktijoddha still led the 12-team table with 16 points while three-time champions Abahani were in the second position with two points less.
Muktijoddha could have secured full three points had a dying moment drive from left-back Yeamin Munna not come off the crossbar in a game where the All Red created more chances than Abahani after both sides seemingly made a cautious start, probably the fear of losing points was in their mind.
On the back of four straight victories, Muktijoddha looked confident on the field as the return of League’s top-scorer Mithun Chowdhury and Federation Cup’s top-scorer James Moga boosted them up front as they opted for attack straightaway, and created more chances but failed to cash in on any of those attempts.
On the other hand, Abahani looked more disorganised compared to their last match against Brothers Union and the absence of Awudu Ibrahim was felt up front though the Ghanaian striker replaced midfielder Abul Hossain in the second-half and almost snatched a decisive goal one minute from time, but Muktijoddha’s former Abahani goalkeeper Biplob Bhattacharjee brilliantly tipped a Awudu free-kick over the crossbar in the last moment to salvage his new side.
“The boys should have won the game by at least four goals and instead they drew,” said Muktijoddha coach Maruful Haq, who was not at all happy with the performance.
Haq was however happy to see the return of Moga, who played a vital holding role up front as Muktijoddha badly felt the absence of the Sudanese striker, who was busy saving his family in the trouble-hit country.
Abahani’s Iranian coach Ali Akbar was also not happy the way his charges played and lamented the level of intelligence of the players.
“The boys did not play well today. They were instructed to keep the ball along the ground but they played at their will throughout and it is not football,” said a frustrated Ali.
