Two arch-rivals--Dhaka Mohammedan SC and Dhaka Abahani Limited stayed in the runners-up race of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2023-24 beating their rivals at two separate venues on Saturday afternoon.
Dhaka Mohammedan defeated former champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 3-1 goals at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium in Gopalganj while Dhaka Abahani Ltd beat Chittagong Abahani Ltd by 3-2 goals at the Bir Shreshtha Fl Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj.
After the day's matches, Dhaka Mohammedan SC and Dhaka Abahani Limited have secured 32 points each from 17 matches, and will now meet each other on Wednesday to decide the runners-up of the ongoing league.
Earlier, star-studded Bashundhara Kings clinched the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football title for a record 5th consecutive time securing 43 points from 17 matches.
In Gopalganj, Malian forward Souleymane Diabate struck twice for the traditional black and whites Mohammedan in the 36th and 90th minutes while Nigerian midfielder Emmanuel Sunday netted another goal for Mohammedan in the 53rd minute.
Uzbek defender S Kholmatov scored the consolation goal for Sheikh Jamal DC in the added time (90+4 minutes) of the match from a penalty.
In Munshiganj, St Vincent striker Cornelius Stewart guided Dhaka Abahani to the victory from behind making a hattrick scoring all three goals in the 80th, 90th and 90+3 minutes.
Medio Mannaf Rabbi and Riaj Uddin Sagor scored one each for Chittagong Abahani in the 20th and 67th minutes, respectively.
In the day's other match, former champions Sheikh Russel KC beat bottom-placed Brothers Union Club by 3-2 goals at the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi on Saturday.
Sumon Reza, Akhror and Chandon scored one each for the winners while Eleta Kingsley scored both goals for the losers.
