Five-time Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions Bashundhara Kings suffered a shocking 0-1 goal defeat to 10-man Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd in the second-round match of the ongoing Bashundhara Group BPL 2024-25 at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Friday.
The traditional black and white got a big blow when their regular goalkeeper Sujon Hossain got the marching order in the 24th minute of the first half.
However, Malian captain Souleymane Diabate broke the deadlock and put his 10-man team in the driving seat in the 58th minute. Holders Kings failed to score an equalizer in the rest of the game.
Kings earlier made a flying start in the 10-team BPL with a massive 7-0 goals win over Chittagong Abahani Ltd by 7-0 goals in their den at the Bashundhara Kings Arena while last year’s runners-up Mohammedan crushed Dhaka Wanderers Club by 6-0 goals, both on November 29.
Also, Kings started the ongoing domestic season 2024-25 on a positive note after beating Mohammedan by 3-1 goals in the single-leg match of the curtain-raising tournament -- Bangladesh 2.0 Challenge Cup 2024-25, Powered by Bashundhara Group -- on November 22.
In the day’s other match, Rahamatganj Muslim Friends Society beat Chittagong Abahani Ltd by 2-0 goals at the Rofique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.
Substitute forward Nabib Newaj Jiban scored a brace after a barren first half in the 55th and 68th minutes.
bd-pratidin/GR
