Defending champions Bashundhara Kings suffered a 0-1 goal defeat to Abahani Ltd Dhaka in their first-leg match of the ongoing Bashundhara Group Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024-25 at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Friday.
Kings got the blow in the second minute when forward Sumon Reza buried the ball into the net with a brilliant header off a cross from another forward Sahariar Emon, but failed to recover the loss in the rest of the match which was played for 97 minutes.
Kings Brazilian captain Miguel Figueira and Abahani forward Mirajul Islam conceded a yellow card each as they got involved in a tussle just before halftime.
It was Kings’ second defeat in the ongoing BPL as well as their second defeat of the week as they lost to Fortis Football Club by 0-2 in their second Group A match of the ongoing Bashundhara Group Federation Cup 2024-25 at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Tuesday.
In the ongoing BPL, they lost their second match to Mohammedan Sporting Club by 0-1 goal at the same venue on 6 December.
Mohammedan continued their winning streak in the league after beating Police FC by 3-1 goals in the day’s other match at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.
Nigerian defender Emmanuel Tony Agbaji, his compatriot forward Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Sunday and Malian forward Souleymane Diabate scored one each for Mohammedan in the 31st, 40th and 71st minutes respectively while forward Al Amin reduced the gap for Police in the 45+2nd minute.
After the day’s matches, the traditional black and white consolidated the top spot with 12 points from four consecutive wins, Abahani climbed up second spot with 9 points from three wins and one defeat while Kings and Police were sharing the same fourth place with their previous credit of 6 points from two wins and two defeats each.
Meanwhile, Chittagong Abahoni Ltd will face Fakirerpool Young Men's Club in Mymensingh, Fortis will take on Dhaka Wanderers Club at the Bashundhara Kings Arena and Rahamatganj Muslim Friends Society will meet Brothers Union Ltd at the Shaheed Bir Shreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, all tomorrow at 2:30pm (BST).
Source: The Daily Sun
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