Defending champions Bashundhara Kings maintained their winning run in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League 2022-23 as they outplayed Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra by 4-0 goals at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Friday.
Kings also maintained a 10-point lead over second-placed Dhaka Abahani after Abahani bagged a 4-1 goal win over Bangladesh Police Football Club at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla.
Kings earlier had a 10-point lead over Abahani before this match day. The day’s result made no changes at their point difference. The reigning champions have to collect at least nine more points from their remaining six matches to confirm the BPL title for the fourth consecutive time.
Kings currently have 40 points from 13 wins and one draw while Abahani have 30 points from nine wins, three draws and two defeats.
At Kings Arena, Brazilian captain Robson Robinho missed the match but their fans witnessed his two compatriots -- midfielder Miguel Figueira Damasceno and forward Dorielton Gomes Nascimento to score a brace each for Kings.
Miguel struck first off a cutback from defender Bishwanath Ghosh in the 42nd minute and then assisted Dorielton two times to extend the margin 3-0 in the 53rd and 76th minutes. The young Brazilian midfielder netted the final goal to seal the fate of the match in the 80th minute.
The day’s brace helped Dorielton to move ahead of Malian forward of Mohammedan Sporting Club Souleymane Diabate in the top scorers’ list with 13 goals.
In Cumilla, Dhaka Abahani Brazilian captain Raphael Augusto Santos da Silva converted a penalty to earn a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute, but Police forward Zillur Rahman equalised the margin within four minutes (40th minute).
After the half time, forward Foysal Ahmed Fahim, midfielder Md Sohel Rana and Nigerian forward Emeka Ogbugh contributed one each in the 55th, 65th and 76th minutes to grab a 4-1 goal win for the last year’s BPL runners-up.
Elsewhere, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club were shocked by a 2-2 draw with the tenth-placed Chattogram Abahoni at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium in Gopalganj.
Gambian forward Sulayman Sillah and Saint Vincentian forward Cornelius Stewart saved Sheikh Jamal with an equaliser each in the 51st and 90+4th minutes after Egyptian forward Mostafa Mahmud Abdel Khalek Hammad and midfielder Ekbal Hossain scored for Ctg Abahoni with one each in the 50th and 85th minutes.
Sheikh Jamal received another blow as their Uzbek midfielder Nodirbek Mavlonov got a marching order just 9 minutes before the stipulated time with his second yellow card.
Despite the draw, Sheikh Jamal climbed to third with 20 points from four wins, eight draws and two defeats but Ctg Abahoni remained tenth with nine points from one win, seven draws and five defeats.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra will play against Mohammedan Sporting Club in Cumilla while Azampur FC Uttara will take on Rahamatganj Muslim Friends Society at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.
Mohammedan are in fourth with 19 points, followed by Sheikh Russel who have 18 points while Rahamatganj are in ninth with 10 points and Azampur FC are at the bottom of the 11-team with three points only.
BDST: 1332 HRS, MAY 06, 2023
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