Malian forward Souleymane Diabate scored a brace as Mohammedan Sporting Club beat defending champions Bashundhara Kings 2-1 in their Bangladesh Premier League second-leg tie at the Kings Arena in the city on Saturday.
In the day鈥檚 other two games, Abahani Limited thrashed Dhaka Wanderers Club 4-2 at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur, while Fortis Football Club beat Brothers Union 2-0 at the Birshreshtha Flight Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj.
With the win over five times back-to-back league winners, Mohammedan not only maintained their top spot in the 10-team table but also boosted their hopes of ending a long drought of winning the title since the league was renamed in 2007.
Mohammedan are leading the table with 30 points, four points ahead of the six-time champions Abahani and 10 points ahead of Kings as the 11th round of the league ended up on Saturday,
Diabate also was the match winner in 10-man Mohammedan鈥檚 1-0 win over Kings in the first-leg in Cumilla.
In the day鈥檚 play, Diabate gave Mohammedan the lead in the 18th minute with a drive from outside of the d-box, capitalising on a mix-up between Kings goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon and Brazilian defender Daciel Elis following a long ball provided by Mohammedan鈥檚 Uzbekistani midfielder Muzaffar Muzaffarov.
Kings returned to the game with forward Rakib Hossain scoring in the 25th minute from goalmouth, following a free-kick from 30-yard out by Brazilian midfielder Jonathan Fernandes.聽聽聽
Kings were reduced to 10-man in the 48th minute as their forward Rimon Hossain was sent off with his second yellow card.
Diabate scored the match winner five minutes from time with a clinical finish.
In Gazipur, Brazilian midfielder Raphael Augusto (48th, 83rd) scored a brace while forward Suman Reza (51st) and midfielder Mohammad Ridoy (57th) scored once each for Abahani鈥檚 eighth win.
Forward Sakib Bepari Babu pulled one goal back for Wanderers by converting a spot kick in the 55th minute.
In Munshiganj, defender Kamacai Marma Aky (45th) and Gambian forward Pa Omar Babou (60th) scored once each for Fortis FC, who are in fifth place with 17 points.
