Abahani blast past NoFeL
Bashundhara escape
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
Holders Dhaka Abahani Limited made a flying start with a 2-1 goals victory when they blasted past newly-promoted NoFeL Sporting Club in the curtain raiser of the Bangladesh Premier Football League for the 2018-2019 season yesterday.
Forwards Rubel Miah and Faisal Ahmed Shitol scored for Dhaka Abahani, while defender Kamrul Islam made the consolation for the newly-entrant NoFeL SC.
It was Abahani, who first took the lead in the initial eighth minutes into the game on the pitch of the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) when midfielder Sohel Rana got a neat pass from header via Rayhan Hasans through. The midfielder then slammed the straightforward shot that went on to the right side of the goalpost where unmarked Rubel Miah received right-foot and swiftly took his left-footed back-volley that fumbled NoFeL Sporting Clubs the custodian Appel Mahmud to enter into the net.
Abahani could have been a chance of penalty when mid-forward Mamunul Islam Mamuns corner kick Abahani Afghanistan recruit forward Masih Saighani made header that NoFeLs Nigeria recruit defender Eleta Benjamin Jr directly swapped the course of the goalpost-bound ball with his hand that averted the referees vigil eye.
On 33rd minute, NoFeLs midfielders Shaker Ullah and Mohammad Forhad Mona handled the onrushing Abahani skipper Sunday Chizoba Nwadialu, the fact that did not ward off the surveillance of referee Bharat Chandra Gour, who exchanged a green card for the players bookable offence.
On 39th minute, midfielder Jamid Uddin showed an effort to level the advantage but his shot failed to avert the vigil guard of Abahanis goalkeeper Shahidul Alam, who effortlessly gloved the ball and kept it under his belt.
Just three minutes before the first half, NoFels defender Kamrul Islam earned a clear-cut pass from a defection that befooled Abahanis goalkeeper and its three other defenders, who were inside the goalpost, made the stunning goal that restored the parity for NoFeL.
After the breather, NoFeL made a couple of attack into Abahanis fortress, one of which was just four minutes of the second half when Khondaker Ashraful Islam took a corner kick that Shahidul Alam saved by hand tip.
After that, NoFels midfielder Forhad Mona took a straightforward shoot that went a bit wide of the left post bar of Abahani.
Like NoFeL, Abahanis players initiated counter-attack, one of which substitute Jewel Rana on 76th minute made a long distant shot from the right flank that aptly gloved NoFeLs goalkeeper Appel Mahmud. Then Sunday Chizobas header went over NoFeLs goal post afterwards.
Abahanis another substitute forward Faisal Ahmed Shitol struck the winning goal in the three minutes off the second-half when he made a header off forward Rubel Miahs shot via Waly Faisal but NoFeLs goalie Appel Mahmud failed to keep the control of the ball despite his twice efforts.
Meanwhile title aspirants Bashundhara Kings narrowly scraped home with a 1-0 win over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in a hard fought match at the same venue.
Kings Brazilian recruited mid-fielder Marcos Vinicius Da Costa Soares Da Solva netted the all important goal in 69t minute.
BK
