Soccer giants fire blank

The high voltage Bangladesh League match between the traditional rivals Abahani Limited and Mohammedan Sporting Club ended in a goalless draw at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday.
But the term ‘High Voltage’ was not seen produced in the match due to bite less attacks and counter attacks throughout the match. However, Mohammedans appeared somewhat aggressive in the last moments of the match producing some fear in the Abahani end.
Throughout the 90 minutes, the black and whites created three close chances and on the other hand, the sky blues glimpsed only one chance but all the scoring chances went in vain as none of the playmakers of both the sides could translate those into success.
However, the draw kept sky blues on a right track to their way to triplicate their championship of the country’s only professional league. The reigning champions are rich with 34 points off all win but the draw against their arch rivals on Friday in their 12th match.
Besides, Mohammedans were in a must win position to close the difference in the points table with Abahani but the contenders, after the draw, were still trailing by seven points maintaining 27 points off 11 matches and one first-leg match to be played.
In the sluggish match, Mohammedan drew the first blood in the early fourth minute to make a breakthrough but the Bokula long range header on Wali Faisal’s cross shattered the cross piece and returned to play. That was the best chance for Mohammedans in the first half. Although two other half chances came to their way and it was again Bokula to foil the opportunities.
It was 42nd minute when Bokula should keep his cool to shoot the ball in the nets in an one-to-one situation after leaving behind an Abahani defender. He was seen rushing to take the shoot which flew over the bar post.
Abahani, who made cautious move all-through, could not taste Mohammedan keeper Aminul even for once before the break. The title holders came to life in the 59th minute when the Ghanaian forward duo Ibrahim and Sheriff made an awful threat but a lethargic move by the latter drowned the chance of a party.
Mohammedans, for whom the match was a crucial affair and also had a better ball possession, had a few more opportunities to disappoint their opponents. A great chance came to the Motijheel outfits’ way in the 73rd minute to turn the match towards their favour but the last season’s topscorer Alamu Bokula frustrated a few holiday spectators by failing to take a head from almost on the goal line off a superb cross by Zahid Hossain. Emeka was on a suitable position to push the ball again into the nets but he also failed to connect and in the meantime Abahani defender Meshu came from nowhere to rescue Abahani.
It was a last chance for the Mohammedans in the game when Abahani custodian Biplob punched away goal bound Bokula’s close range header on Mamun’s right side free kick in the 81st minute at the cost of a corner.

Courtesy of The Independent