Abahani's defeat hands Mohammedan elusive Bangladesh Premier League title

Mohammedan Sporting Club's long wait for an elusive Bangladesh Premier League title came to an end after their closest rivals Abahani were beaten 2-1 by 10-man Fortis FC in their match at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla on Saturday.

The Black and Whites, who managed four runners-up finish but never won the league title since professional football was introduced in Bangladesh in 2007, have secured their maiden title with three games in hand.

The title makes the Motijheel outfit the fifth team to win the coveted trophy behind six-time champions Abahani, five-time winners Bashundhara Kings, three-time champions Sheikh Jamal and one-time champions Sheikh Russel.

The Black and Whites had to wait for 23 years to get their hands on the top-tier league title, having lost won the then Dhaka Premier Division League title back in 2002. Overall, this is the 20th top-tier league title -- the most in domestic football -- for the historic club that was founded in 1936.  

Mohammedan, who beat Chittagong Abahani 4-1 at the same venue on Friday, have 38 points from 15 matches, 10 ahead of Abahani who had the opportunity to delay Mohammedan's title-party either with a victory or a draw today.

However, the Sky Blues struggled against a spirited Fortis FC team amid pouring rain in Cumilla, conceding the lead in the 19th minute, with Pa Omar Babou placing home a spot-kick after being brought down inside the box. 

Abahani thought they would get back in the match when Fortis FC's Monjurur Rahman Manik saw a direct red card in the 75th minute for lashing out at Abahani forward Suman Reza. However, a superb speculative goal from Sajed Jummon Nijhum -- the forward chipping Abahani's onrushing goalkeeper Mitul Marma from a distance -- got Abahani all but out of the contest.  

The Sky Blues, though, hit back three minutes later, with Mohammad Ridoy heading home Raphael Augusto's corner-kick before pulling up their socks and launching numerous attacks.

However, Fortis FC, who are now sixth on the table with 22 points, held their own and celebrated the victory. The real celebration though started in Motijheel, who had yearned long for this day.