Abahani go top edging past Muktis
Sports Reporter
A dying minute goal by Sunday Chizoba Nwadialu engineered Abahani Limited, Dhaka to rout a spirited Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra by 2-1 in the crucial fixture of the Saif Power Battery Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Premier Football League-2017 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) in the capital yesterday.
By virtue of the victory, Abahani Limited climbed to the points table of the league leapfrogging Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club (43) and Chittagong Abahani Limited (42).
The Blue-Sky will face off comparatively-weaker side Brothers Union Limited in the next match of the meet on December 31. But they have a stiff hurdle ahead of their title race. If they could overcome these stern challenges from the stronger outfits Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Chittagong Abahani Limited on January 5 and 11 respectively, their title ambitions will then be fulfilled.
But Abahani have to obviously bring big changes in their game plans and strategies in their last two important encounters against Sheikh Jamal and Chittagong Abahani if they could lift the BPL title because they had to toil hard in such way to win against the team like Muktijoddha if they play in such vein against those highly-ranked teams, itll since be difficult to win the championship.
For Abahani Limited, substitute forward Emeka Darlington Onuoha and Sunday Chizoba Nwadialu blasted one goal apiece, while forward Towhid Alam struck the consolation for the Muktijoddha SKC.
Both Abahani and Muktijoddha waged their onslaughts in their respective fortress with small steps. But its Muktijoddha, who became successful first against the traditional powerhouse Abahani when forward Towhid Alam scored the lead-taking goal from free kick in the 17th of the first half.
Abahani defender Samad Yusuf tackled onrushing forward Shah Alamgir Anik at the top-edge of the D-box in the wrong way that could not avert the eagle-eyed referee Mizanur Rahman, who directed to make free-kick what Towhid properly capitalised for Muktijoddha.
Towhids shot directly hit the top of the goal post and later the ball entered into the net deflected the Abahani custodian-cum-captain Shahidul Alam (1-0).
Abahani were desperate to level the margin but they could not capitalise any scoring chance what they produced in the first-half.
After the short breather, Abahani Limited made a repeated attack on Muktijoddhas box including 49th minute and 58th minute when Sunday dribbled past five players including defenders but Amirul Islam saved them.
This time Abahani made two important chances and Emeka and Rayhan Hasan entered into the ground in place of Nabib Newaz Jibon and Samad Yusuf.
The complexion of the match automatically changed for Abahani. Emeka Darlington equalised the advantage with a driving header in the 67th minute what he received from a corner kick.
Abahani then got two ensuring scoring chances in the 87th and 88th minutes respectively but missed to utilise neither of any chance. Later Abahani got a penalty when Muktijoddhas mid-fielder-cum-captain Abbas Inusah handled Abahanis mid-fielder onrushing Emon Mahmud, whose shot was goal-bound that gave them a penalty what Sunday Nwadialu pushed befooling Muktijoddhas goalkeeper Azad Hossain.
