Mohammedan Sporting Club returned to winning ways with a controlled 2-0 victory over Arambagh Krira Sangha in the Bangladesh Football League on Saturday in Manikganj. Sourav Dewan broke the deadlock late in the first half before substitute Rahim Uddin wrapped up the points midway through the second, lifting the Black and Whites to fifth place in the standings.
The result reversed the outcome of their earlier meeting, which had ended in a 1-1 draw.
Mohammedan were denied on several occasions before finally finding the net. As early as the eighth minute, Samuel Boateng got on the end of Jewel Mia’s pass from the left byline, only for his effort to come back off the post. Arambagh goalkeeper Azad Hossain was then in inspired form, producing a sharp save to deny Sourav in the 40th minute after he raced onto Shanto’s through ball, and moments later diving brilliantly to keep out Arif.
The visitors nearly conceded against the run of play in first-half stoppage time. A cross from Mills found Kwame Kizito completely unmarked, but the Ghanaian forward mistimed his jump and headed over the bar.
There was also a moment of controversy in the 18th minute when Mohammedan’s Minhaj Rakib appeared to catch Ghanaian forward Lantei Mills with a raised boot to the chest inside the penalty area. Mills went down and eventually had to leave the field for treatment, but the referee waved play on.
Azad kept Mohammedan at bay again in the 50th minute, but could do nothing a minute later when fortune turned against Arambagh. Boateng failed to connect with Saiful’s pass, and Azad also misjudged his clearance after rushing off his line. Sourav pounced on the loose ball and tapped it into an empty net to hand Mohammedan the lead they had long deserved.
Mohammedan put the result beyond doubt in the 75th minute. Rahim, introduced as a substitute 10 minutes earlier, finished calmly from Arif’s cutback after a driving run down the right flank. Coach Abdul Kaiyum Sentu’s side then managed the game with ease to claim their fifth win of the season.
The victory moved Mohammedan up one place to fifth, with 20 points from 16 matches. They remain well off the pace at the top, sitting 15 points behind leaders Bashundhara Kings and 14 adrift of second-placed Abahani Limited Dhaka.
In the day’s other fixture, Brothers Union defeated Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society 3-1 in Rajshahi, with Pakistani forward Shayak Dost netting twice to seal the win.
Rahmatganj made the livelier start and took the lead in the 10th minute through Javed Ahmed. Shayak pulled Brothers Union level in the 35th minute, and the contest swung decisively in the second half when a Shahin Ahmed own goal put the Dhaka side in front. Shayak then added his second in the 71st minute to confirm the victory.
The defeat dropped Rahmatganj one place to sixth on 19 points, while Brothers Union sit seventh with 17. Arambagh, following their loss to Mohammedan, remain just above the relegation zone in eighth place with 14 points in the 10-team league.
