Diabate double seals Mohammedan win

Skipper Souleymane Diabate’s brace helped Mohammedan Sporting Club go past Sheikh Jamal in a comfortable victory, beating them 3-1 in the Bangladesh Premier League football match at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Comilla on Monday.

Diabate scored two for his side and netted one in his own goal, while midfielder Sheikh Morsalin scored a volley.

Morsalin broke the deadlock for Mohammedan in the 34th minute with a smart side-footed finish.

The goal was finished after Mohammedan had kept a good phase of possession and control. Right-back Sadekuzzaman Fahim whipped a cross into the box, and an incoming Morsalin volleyed it past the keeper.

But their celebrations were short-lived as Sk Jamal managed to level the score just four minutes later.

Defender Rayhan Hasan delivered a long throw into the box, which unsettled the Mohammedan defence. Goalkeeper Ahsan Habib was able to parry it away, but the loose ball was found by Otabek Valizhonov, whose shot hit Diabate at the far post and went in.

However, Diabate managed to redeem himself just minutes later, as he converted a penalty to score his 14th goal of the season.

Sk Jamal defender Rayhan handled the ball, and the referee quickly pointed toward the spot. Diabate made no mistake and drove his shot into the top corner.

They put the final nail in the coffin in the 83rd minute as Diabate netted his second goal, once again from the spot.

This time Rayhan’s defensive partner, Ariful Islam, was at fault. In a brain fade moment, Ariful tried to clear away an incoming cross from the right with his right hand.

He extended his arms, and the ball brushed his fist as Mohammedan players called for a handball. Ariful was in complete denial and pointed towards his shoulder to indicate that the ball had brushed off his shoulders.

The referee pointed to the spot and Diabate went for the other side this time to net his 15th goal of the season, only behind Chattogram Abahani’s number nine Peter Ebimobowei, who leads the charts with 17 goals.

Mohammedan sit sixth in the points table with 25 points, while Sk Jamal are fourth with 30 points.