Nigerian forward Ugochukwu Awala Magalan struck the winning goal from a set-piece as CHittagonmg Abahani edged past  Muktijoddha Krira Sangsad by 1-0 goal in the Round-1 fixture of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier Football League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) yesterday.

Both Abahani and Muktijoddha made their attack in each other tent from the very beginning of the encounter. In the meantime, Chittagong Abahani  had two goal-making chances in a row in the initial ninth minute to first take the lead in the match. The first of which was young mid-fielder Fahim Morshed, who was just one-to-one situation with Muktijoddha’s goalkeeper Arifuzzaman Himel but his right-footed shot directly hit the left-side of the post.

Therefore, Abahani Nigerian recruit forward Ugochukwu Awala Magalan got the ball from the deflection but his straightforward shot went a bit wide. In this way, the first half of the match ended, where none of them produced any goal.

Just four minutes of the second half, it was Abahani’s Nigerian forward Ugochukwu Awala Magalan, who came back from four-week injury layoff, broke the stalemate with an outstanding free kick. The winning side got a free kick when a Muktijoddha defender wrongly handled the onrushing Abahani’s Gambian mid-fielder Momodou Bah. Head coach Zulfikar Ali Mintu brought in fit-again Magalan, who sidelined with hamstring injury during the match against Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra in the Independence Cup, to make the set piece in lieu of his regular free-kick hitter Kawshik Barua considering his strength. Magalan hit the free-kick what was deflected by Muktijoddha’s defender Sean Anthony Bateau and kinkily entered the goalpost in 49 minutes while the goalkeeper having no chance to glove the ball.

“I was so astonished. Wow, this is a wonderful goal,” said Ugochukwu Awala Magalan, who came here in Bangladesh one and half-a-season ago to play for Muktijoddha.  

“I have practiced on this type of set piece. And this is the first time I made this type of free-kick. It was first in my career,” Magalan told media after the match.

“It’s wonderful. I wanted to give a special for Chittagong Abahani what I am doing today,” he added.

“I didn’t score in the Independence Cup. I struck two goals in the Federation Cup, he said, adding that he doesn’t know, only God knows all. Actually I wanted to see my team among the first three after the end of the round-1.”

After conceding the goal, Muktijoddha were desperately trying to level the advantage with their intense onslaught.  Muktijoddha Ivory Cost recruit forward Ballo Famoussa took a straightforward shot in the 66th minutes outside of the box but Abahanri’s custodian Nehal saved by handtips. Then Guinean defender Younoussa Camara’s header was also saved by Abahani’s goalkeeper Nehal in the 67th minute.

Monaem Khan Raju made a bookable offence to Muktijoddha mid-fielder Mohammad Sohel, the incident that didn’t avert referee M. Z. F Nahid’s vigil eye and showed yellow card without any hesitation to see the intensity of the foul.

Abahani coach said that they had some lacking to hit on target.

“We’ve to work on it,” Mintu said.

“Our player Danial, who is playing Asian Cup in UAE for his country, is expected to come after January 22. In the meantime, Magalan will be fit hundred percent. Then we could field a well-balanced team and then such problem will be solved,” Mintu added.

SAIF WIN

Saif Sporting Club netted two goals in a span of nine minutes to down Rahmatganj MFS by an odd goal in three in the other match away at Mymensingh Stadium.

Javed Khan sent Saif into lead in 37th minute and Hasan Nayon doubled the advantage nine minutes later.

Rahmatganj reduced the margin during the injury time when Faisal Ahmed perfectly found the mark converting a spot kick.