League leaders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club suffered a jolt as title aspirant Dhaka Abahani registered an emphatic 2-0 win over them in the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier Football League on Thursday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
To make the matter worse, Sheikh Jamal were reduced to ten men in the 68th minute when their Nigerian forward Emeka Darlington was sent off for a dangerous foul.
Abahani settled early as they launched a number of attacks in the very 3rd minute as midfielder Shahedul Alam saw his curved effort from the top of the box just missed the side post by a few inches.
Three minutes later, Abahani defender Nasirul Islam’s corner from the right hand flag again hit the sidebar.
The sky blue Dhanmondi ‘outfit’ Abahani striker Wahed Ahmed missed a chance in the 17th minute when he placed the ball into the feet of Jamal goalie Himel in a one-to-one situation.
But Wahed did not fumble as he put Abahani ahead in the 20th minute when smartly nodding home off Shahedul Alam’s free kick from the top of the six yards box (1-0).
Sheikh Jamal finally settled down and in the 39th minute they launched a first notable move when Sohel Rana curved a cross from the left flank and Wedson Anselme fired a left footer wide from a convenient position.
Wahed sealed the victory for Abahani in the 58th minute when he received a low cross of Abdul Baten Majumdar Komol in the middle of the box and placed the ball home into the far post (2-0).
With the day’s win, Abahani have 17 points from nine matches while Sheikh Jamal remained at 23 from 10 outings.
