Abahani and national striker Enamul Haque runs for joy after scoring the all-important goal against Muktijuddha Sangsad Krira Chakra during their Bangladesh League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Photo: Star
A first-half strike from Enamul Haque helped Abahani maintain their hundred percent success in the Bangladesh League as the defending champions handed a lone-goal defeat to Muktijoddha Sangsad at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
National striker Enamul headed a Sheriff Din Mohammed lob home in the 16th minute to give Abahani their fourth win in as many matches under the floodlight. Sadly there were hardly 500 spectators present to watch the match at big bowl.
The Dhanmondi-based outfit, Abahani, now lead the points table with 12 points, two points ahead of Sheikh Russel KC, who today handed a 2-0 defeat to Chittagong Abahani at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong. Hufan Albarka and Samir Omari scored for the winners.
The Bangladesh League, the professional football league, resumed after one-and-a-half months following the break for the SAFF Championship where hosts Bangladesh were eliminated from the semifinal putting up a frustrating performance against India.
At the BNS, both sides looked to have played the game without any purpose though Abahani came close to taking the lead in the very seventh minute when Ghanaian striker Awudu Ibrahim rattled the woodwork from outside the box.
Neither Abahani nor Muktijoddha could assert their authority in the midfield and there was definitely a lack of rhythm in the game. With Abahani left-back Siraji nursing his injury outside the field, Muktijoddha capitalised the gap to produce two good opportunities, but their Liberian striker Eugene Jiah Gray, despite having found Abahani goalkeeper Biplob Bhattacharjee alone, drove straight much to relief of the Abahahi goalkeeper, who initially looked nervous.
Picking up a ball from fellow teammate, Sherif darted in the box from the left and lobbed it for Enamul, who stabbed a glancing header home to maintain his SAFF Championship form where he struck four goals in as many matches.
Muktijoddha Sangsad, however, found the equaliser in the 20th minute through a freekick taken by Mahmudul Hasan, but referee Azad Rahman cancelled the equaliser citing 'vision obstacle' of the Abahani goalkeeper by Gray, who rushed to rise high, but could not connect with the ball that found the far net with one bounce.
Then, Abahani striker Enamul forced Mukti goalkeeper Nizam Majumder to make a diving safe on the half-hour mark while Sheriff's two efforts went in vain inside one minute.
After resumption, the match turned even duller with both sides showing no urgency though both sides brought a couple of changes in a bid to speed up the game and Abahani were deprived of a certain goal in the 65th minute when Ibrahim again saw his shot at the top of the box came off the crossbar.
Muktijoddha captain Firoz Mahmud Titu, who seemed reluctant throughout the game and missed a coupe of good chances, should have levelled the margin in the 76th minute, but the winger drove a shot on the edge of the 8-yard box miles of the target when composure was needed to beat Biplob in a one-on-one situation.
TEAMS
MUKTIJODDHA SANGSAD: Nizam Majumder, Ashraf Hossain, Amit Khan Shuvro, Prodeep Kumar Podder (Russel Ansari), Mahmudul Hasan, Firoj Mahmud Titu, Jalal (Saifur Rahman Moni), Azmol Hossain Biddut, Arup Kumar Baidya, Fuard Ali and Eugene Jiah Gray.
ABAHANI: Biplob Bhattacharjee, Mohiuddin Ibnul Siraji (Obidur Rahman), Samad Yousuf, M Sujan, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Mehdi Hasan Ujjal, Pranotosh Kumar Das, Shahedul Alam (Motiur Munna), Enamul Haque, Sheriff Din Mohammad, Awudu Ibrahim (Zahed Parvez Chowdhury).
Yellow cards: Ujjal and Sheriff (Abahani).
Referee: Azad Rahman.
