Matin Meah struck twice as Bashundhara Kings kept their winning spree in the Bangladesh Premier League defeating Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 3-1 in the Bangladesh Premier League football match yesterday at the Sheikh Kamal Stadium in Nilphamari.
At the Shaheed Bulu Stadium, Noakhali, in the other game of the league, holders Abahani Limited blanked the hosts NoFeL Sporting Club by 2-0 when Sunday and Jibon struck one goal each. Bashundhara Kings, who finished the first leg of the league on top, began the second leg with powering to a deserving win when they played with better domination, though Sheikh Jamal wanted to win the three points or at least to snatch a point to lift them a good position.
Bashundhara, who always play with good mood at their home ground, of course without any stress, as they won all their seven first leg matches but on the day they saw some challenges from the early hour, as it took 36 minutes to take lead and the equaliser of Jamal inside seven minutes of the second half.
Bashundhara after an attacking approach went closer for very often but could not open the scoring when Jamal also showed some heroic attitude with responding well with quick attack and also threatened to take lead.
However, Bashundhara created the real chance on 36th minute to take lead when their Brazilian forward Marcos Vinicius powered a low right foot volley from the top of the box (1-0).
Inspired by Marcos strike, Bashundhara went very closer to double the lead in the first half but Matin Meah’s close range shot slammed against the cross piece and returned to play.
Jamal could have also the equaliser in the first and could made the scenario different but their newly recruited Gambian Sambou failed to open his account in his Dhaka debut from the first chance came to his way on 45th minute.
Bashundhara started the second half in style and could have made the tally 3-0 in side five minutes but Marcos and Matin Meah could not mark the targets from close range when Colindres provided a cross for Matin on 59th and in the next minute after a solo Matin Meah’s strong effort was saved for a corner.
Sambou after rushing inside the area failed to just knock on his compatriot Kanteh’s cross. Jamal, getting rid of two quick assaults, looked on better offensive than the hosts and equalised the margin on 52nd minute through Emil Sambou when this time the Gambian did not miss to push the ball on a Solomon King right side cross (1-1).
After the one all inside seven minute, Bashundhara made it 3-1 with scoring two goals in a span of 10 minute with Matin Meah struck both goals to make the tally 2-1 on 56th and 3-1 on 63rd minute.
At the Shaheed Bulu Stadium, Sunday Chizoba and Jibon scored one goal each to help Abahani Limited to a 2-0 win over NoFeL Sporting Club.
Sunday opened the scoring on fifth minute with placing his right footer on a Raihan Hassan throw in and Jibon headed home when the ball came to his way off a Belfort header on Raihan’s another throw in.
At the Gopalganj Stadium, Chittagong Abahani Limited downed the hosts Muktijodha by 4-1 when Mamoudu Bah scored two goals, Nigerian Nkowcha Kingsley and Islam scored one goal each. Japanese midfielder Yusuke Kato reduced one goal for Muktijodha.