Diabate hits another treble

Malian forward Souleymane Diabate netted his second hattrick of the Bangladesh Premier League season as Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) handed a massive 6-1 defeat to Muktijoddha Sangsad at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj yesterday.

Mohammedan are now fifth, having raised their tally to 15 points from 11 matches.

However, things got off to a bleak start as defender Mohammad Atiquzzaman scored an eighth-minute opening goal to give the Muktijoddha the lead. But that lead lasted just 14 minutes before Diabate equalised and the Malian gave his side the lead by doubling his tally 13 minutes later. Muzaffarjan Muzaffarov then made it 3-0 three minutes before the break.

Mohammedan, coached by Alfaz Ahmed, came out even stronger for the second half, with Diabate completing his hattrick in the 53rd minute. His first hattrick of the season had come against Azampur FC Uttara in February.

Afterwards, forwards Emanuel Sunday and Sazzad Hossain struck to complete the rout.

Away at the Rofique Uddin Bhuiya Stadium in Mymenshing, Sheikh Russel defeated Bangladesh Police FC 3-1 in the day's other match to leapfrog their opponents into third place in the 11-team table. Sheikh Russel have 17 points after 11 matches while Police slipped to fourth place with 16 points.

Bangladesh Police stunned Sheikh Russel to take a 37th-minute lead through Colombian striker Johan Leonardo but Jufiker Mahmud Mintu's charges came out strongly for the second half and goals from Mohammad Ibrahim, Mfon Sunday and substitute Nihat Jaman rescued the former champions.