Titans Abahani and Mohammedan Sporting Club maintained their winning run in the Bangladesh League when both of giants defeated their respective rivals at different venues yesterday.
A 61-minute strike from Pranotosh Kumar helped holders Abahani beat Shuktara Jubo Sangsad at the Narayaganj Osmani Stadium while a second-half brace from substitute Shakil Ahmed powered Mohammedan to an emphatic 3-0 win over Muktijoddha Sangsad KS at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Two-time professional league champions Abahani are still top of the pile with 44 points from 15 outings, just four points ahead of rivals Mohammedan, who lifted their tally to 40 points from 15 matches.
Muktijoddha Sangsad and Shuktara Jubo Sangsad were struck to 14 and seven points respectively having played 15 matches each.
Mohammedan coach Maruful Haq was once again forced to make his starting eleven without two Nigerian key players Alamu Bukola Olaleken and Emeka Christian following the statement over payment and the Black and Whites looked likely to drop points against a side, whom they beat 4-0 in their first meeting. The Motijheel-based outfit were poor in the first half and there was no sign of what they put up in their 7-0 win over Shuktara in the previous match. The first half was virtually a festival of missing the goals with key striker Zahid Hasan Emily squandering twice from close range to frustrate the few hundred spectators at the Big Bowl.
A new-look Muktijoddha, who suffered six successive defeats in the first league, also threatened their mighty opponents coming close twice to taking the lead though their foreign recruits Eugene Jaih Gray and Raphael Sagno could not beat goalkeeper Aminul Haque.
However, the things started to change after the resumption as coach Maruf brought three changes sending on Shakil Ahmed, Arman Aziz and Alamgir Hossain Rana.
Nasir Chowdhury, who struck a hattrick in the previous match, eased the pressure to put Mohammedan ahead in the 63rd minute with a header off a Ariful Islam right-side cross.
Four minutes later, Muktijoddha almost equalled the margin, but Ghanaian defender Fuad Ali saw his header off a Rony Islam corner go over the bar on the bounce much to the relief of Mohammedan goalkeeper Aminul.
Shakil, who came to the field in the 63rd minute substituting Zahid Hossain, lessened the tension in the Mohammedan tent by doubling the lead in the 84th minute when the younger brother of striker Emily latched a right-footer inside the box past goalkeeper Atiqul Islam Tareq.
Shakil finally made the result safe with a spectacular drive in stoppage time as the winger drove a high cross from Ariful home from inside the box to strike his league's second goal.
TEAMS:
MOHAMMEDAN: Aminul Haque, Wali Faisal, Nasirul Islam, Mofazzal Hossain Saikat, Mamunul Islam, Ariful Islam, Enamul Haq Sharif, Abdul Baten Komol (Arman Aziz), Zahid Hossain (Shakil Ahmed), Nasir Chowdhury (Alamgir Rana) and Zahid Hasan Emily.
MUKTIJODDHA: Atiqul Islam, Amit Khan Shuvro, Ashraf Hossain, Prodeep Kumar Poddar, Jalal Uddin (Shahajuddin Tipu), Azmol Hossain Biddut, Rony Islam, Amin Rana, Raphael Sagno, Fuard Ali (Tazul Khan), Eugene Jiah Gray.
Referee: Tayed Hasan