Mohammedans go from bad to worst
Saif return to title race
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
Mohammedan Sporting Club suffered fourth defeat in a row in the Bangladesh Premier Football League when they went down to Saif Sporting Club by 2-1 yesterday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Denis Bolshakov initiated the scoring in the 11th minute and Denis Andres Cordoba doubled the lead on 46th minute for Saif, while Pashbon Molla reduced one for Mohammedan.
Might be it was the worst time for the Moahmmemdan Sporting Club since they have been playing in the top flight for about its 100 years history, when they suffered four defeats at a stretch.
Realistically it was need to win the match for both sides and obviously for Mohammedan it was more obligatory, as out of their last four matches they suffered three defeats and could manage only three points from as a win.
For Saif Sporting Club it was essential to win to remain on title race, as, they won three matches, drew one and conceded as many defeat out of their five encounters.
However, Saif could do the job successfully defeating Mohammedan and also went on second position with 13 points from six points.
The traditional Black and White, in a bid to win the match began with some positive attitude when they generated the first move of the game in the very second minute when they created good pressure with going through the left wing, though there was no outcome from the strong progress.
Saif responded well three minutes later fabricating an attack down the left when Senguil Park received the possession and entered in an open space inside the box but finally he took a fragile shot straight to Mohammedan keeper Sarwar Jahan.
Saif, failing to take lead from the easy chance, jacked up with organizing a strong move through left side and took the lead on 11 minutes when their Russian forward Bolshakov blasted a long range shot. This time Jamal Bhuiyan released a cross for Bolkashov who received the ball some 25 yards away from the post and found Mohammedan goalkeeper a bit advance from the post and fired his right footer into the far post (1-0).
Mohammedan could have the equaliser on 25th minute when their captain Nkowcha Kingsley had the possession inside the area from a combined attack but the Nigerians sky-high shot went over the post.
Saif also had a golden opportunity to double the advantage on 29th minute but their Korean forward Sengguil Park again displayed a lackluster effort when his penalty kick hit the side post. It was also a good exchanges between Saifs captain Jamal Bhuiyan, Bolkashov and Park, when the later obtained the ball possession and entered into the box but on his way to the post Mohammedan keeper just jumped on his feet and referee Sujit Banerjee directed for spot kick.
However, the tile contenders continued their endeavor and doubled the lead just inside 15 seconds after the break.
It was another beautiful progress with the left side and Bolshakov hooked a ball forward when the sporadically brilliant South Korean forward Park dodged past his markers before went to the touch line to cut back the ball in the area for onrushing Colombian forward Deiner Andres Cordoba, who just pushed the ball into the near post (2-0).
Mohammedan, trailing by 2-0 launched some good attacks and get hold of the possession and also could reduce one goal on 67th minute through Amir Hakim Bappy when the substitute forward headed home after Kingsley header on Pashbons corner went to Bappy (1-2).
Despite having enough time to scored goals, Mohammedan even playing with some dominance and also going closer, due to fragile efforts from the forwards could not at least have a draw.
