Mohammedan thwart Kings

Defending champions Bashundhara Kings were held in a 1-1 draw by Mohammedan Sporting Club in the 18th round match of the Bangladesh Premier at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Saturday.

Mohammedan gave their archrivals Dhaka Abahani a lifeline in their quest for the championship as the Sky Blues are now seven points behind the champions with one game in hand.

Kings, on the other hand, failed to bag all three points for the first time in nine games. They managed to string together an eight-match winning streak since their 3-3 draw against Sheikh Jamal DC in early April.

Oscar Bruzon’s men were undone by one of their own. Mohammedan’s young midfielder Sheikh Morsalin, who is on loan from Kings, broke the deadlock to put his team ahead in the 11th minute.

Mohammedan midfielder Forhad Mona nicked the ball off Kings skipper Robson Robinho outside his box and the ball kindly found Morsalin, who had no second thoughts about drilling a long-ranger in. The ball flew into the top of the far corner, baffling goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico, leaving him as a bystander.

The initial jitters were further exposed in the 17th minute when Mohammedan winger Zafar Iqbal was through on goal, and he managed to chip the goalkeeper, but in the process, also chipped the goal.

But Kings brushed off the rusty twenty minutes and regained their composure as they maintained a good phase of possession. This soon paid dividend as Kings’ Brazilian midfielder Miguel Damascena produced perhaps one of the goals of the season and got them level.

Damascena was fed from the left as he took a central position outside the box. He clipped the ball over an onrushing defender and volleyed the low-lofted ball with his left foot into the bottom far corner.

Mohammedan shut down shop soon after, and the second half was all about keeping Kings out. They defended in a low-block and thwarted numerous opposition attacks.

Kings got a golden opportunity to clinch the game in the closing minutes but failed to find the net. Defender Kahled Shafiei’s shot from 30 yards was cleared away by the defender, and substitute Suman Reza blazed it over from 20 yards, keeping it 1-1.

Kings sit top with 45 points, while Mohammedan stand fifth with 26.