Mohammedan sporting Club and Abahani Linited, who ruled the country’s domestic football for a long time, now are fighting for the runners up trophy of Bangladesh Premier League football.
After the 16th round match both Mohammedan and Abahani earned 29 points each when the former drew their match against Rahmatganj MFS and the latter bagged a big win against Brothers Union on Friday.
Meanwhile, Bashundhara Kings have already clinched the title of the league with three matches remaining and left Mohammedan and Abahani far behind to them.
In fact, after the entrance of Bashundhara Kings in the top tire of the Bangladesh football in 2017-18 season, the supremacy of traditional giants Mohammedan Sporting Club and Abahani Limited tumbled-down.
Bashundhara Kings after their appearance won all the Bangladesh Premier League football titles including this season when this time it was their fifth in a row.
Once Mohammedan and Abahani had absolute domination in the domestic football but now are almost failing to throw real challenges to Bashundhara Kings but to struggle to retrieve their glory.
Kings have been winning the league title for last five years leading the points table with huge different to their closest contenders.
However, Mohammedan, who were second position up to 15th round with 28 points, two points ahead of Abahani, failed to won their 16th encounter when Rahmatganj MFS forced them to share points for 3-3 draw on Friday.
On the other hands, on the same day, Abahani Limited, who were trailing by two points to Mohammedan, equalled the tally after demolishing Brothers Union by 7-1.
In the day’s other match Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra and Chittagong Abahani Limited shared points with a 1-1 draw at the Bashundhara Kings Arena.
Held at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium, Gopalganj, in a must win game to remain on contest to win the runners up trophy, Stewart struck four goals with Washington Brando scored two goals when Meraj Hossian joined the goal-galore to steer Abahani to a big win.
Mohammedan Sporting Club, who had an opportunity to retain their lead over Abahani with winning the today’s match but failed to overpower Rahmatganj.
In the six goals thriller at Rafique Uddin Stadium, Mymensingh, the opening 45 minutes of the game was ended on 2-2 with Mohammedan taking the lead with Jafar Iqbal striking in the fifth minute and Soleymane Diabate doubled the margin on 21st minute. But Rahmatganj MFS, who were fighting evenly, levelled the margin when Ernest Boeteng and Samuel Konney scored a piece to go break for 2-2.
Samuel, who scored a couple of goals, led Rahmatganj on 65th minute (2-2) but when the injury time was going on and seeming Rahmatganj were going to win the match, Mohammedan captain Diabate stunned the Old Dhaka outfit with equalizing the match at the dying minute (3-3).
After the draw of today’s match, the results of remaining two matches will decide who would win the runners up trophy.
