Defender Sushanta Tripura salvaged the Chittagong Abahani Limited with a late strike as the league leaders defeated Arambagh Krira Sangha by solitary goal in the Saif Power Battery Bangladesh Premier League football yesterday.

Held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, in the day’s first match Sushanta Tripura scored the all important goal of the match on 73rd minute to steer the Chittagong Abahani to remain on top of the points table with 42 points from 17 matches.

The title aspirants elapsed tough times in their previous two matches also when they were forced to share points with Saif Power Sporting and just survived with a solitary goal win against Rahmatganj, also saw some struggling time on the day against Arambagh.

In the first half the Ctg outfit not looked sharp, as they could break the Armabagh defense for twice only at the late hour but could not score any goal when Towhidul Alam Sobuj’s header on 39th and 42nd minute was gripped by goalkeeper.

Ctg Abahani  were closer to take lead early in the second half with Lionel advancing down the left but defender Mohammed Pervej was hesitating alarmingly, permitting him (Lionel) to make an attempt which merely succeeded in bouncing the ball off the striker’s shin before eventually rolling into the corner on 47th.

Maruf Hassan’s players retreated into their highly organised defense shell, did everything in their power to avoid foil a series of  strong attacks of Ctg Abahani.

Arambagh rode their luck when Saddam made a hash clearing off a Sabuj effort, permitting Towhidul Alam to shoot and Pervej to save with an outstretched foot before the forward volleyed the ball over the bar. Both forwards should have scored.

The frustration of the Ctg Abahani was mounting up and their anxiety was also increased as they were not getting goal despite the Arambagh defense was cracking like a pack of cards. The forwards should be blamed for missing all the chances. Finally Sushanto Tripura gave great relief to Chittagong outfit when the defender found the mark with a close range header.

Arambagh left back Mahmudul Hassan trying to stop an Abdullah move made a bad tackle few meters outside the box and Zahid’s curling free kick found unmarked Sushanta at the edge of the area and his dropping header went into the top corner of the net on 73rd minute (1-0)). Interestingly, in the previous match also Ctg Abahani salvaged with a lone strike on 73rd minute against Rahmatganj by Abdullah.