Abahani keeps title bid barely alive with big win

Dhaka Abahani Ltd thrashed Swadhinata KS 4-1 in Cumilla on Thursday to keep their Bangladesh Premier League title hopes barely alive as they are now seven points behind Bashundhara Kings with three matches in hand.

Kings are 48 points from 19 games, while Abahani have 41. Abahani will need Kings to lose all three of their remaining games to clinch the title, while one win will take the defending champions to their third consecutive title.

Abahani started the game strongly and Rakib Hossain almost opened the scoring in the 19th minute when he cut in from the right and unleashed a great left-foot shot, which was brilliantly saved by Swadhinata goalkeeper Sarwar Jahan.

But that paid no dividends as in the next minute, Abahani’s star player Daniel Colindres found the top-right corner with a brilliant curling finish with his right foot.

Four minutes later, Dorielton doubled Abahani’s advantage. Rakib’s cross from the right wing somehow found Dorielton and the Brazilian provided a cool finish to make it 2-0.

Swadhinata got one back in the stoppage time of the first half when the Abahani defence went missing. Jahedul’s cross from the left wing found Yuta Suzuki completely free in the box, whose headed finish made it 2-1.

In the 57th minute, Abahani got their two-goal cushion back courtesy of Dorielton. Abahani skipper Nabib Newaz Jiban produced a brilliant chipped pass to send the Brazilian striker free, and he finished it coolly to make it 3-1.

In the 78th minute, midfielder Raphael Augusto, after a brilliant solo run, found Colindres free in the box, but the Costa Rican sent it way over the bar to squander the opportunity to make it 4-1.

But it was 4-1 a couple of minutes later and Augusto was the one who started and finished it. He went on another dazzling run, before finding Dorielton, who produced a sublime backheel to find his compatriot Augusto free in the box. From there, Augusto produced a simple finish to make it 4-1.