Dorielton hattrick helps Kings edge Fortis in BFL thriller

Matchday 11 of the Bangladesh Football League (BFL) delivered a day of high-stakes drama and significant movement in the standings on Saturday as leaders Bashundhara Kings edged Fortis FC 3–2 in what proved to be a classic encounter in Dhaka.

The victory kept Kings atop the standings with 24 points from 11 matches, while Fortis remained on 21 points after suffering only their second defeat of the season.

At the Bashundhara Kings Arena, the match was a truly topsy-turvy battle and a heated affair from the opening whistle, characterised by a physical intensity that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats throughout the ninety minutes.

Fortis drew first blood in the 19th minute when Pa Omar Babou threaded a perfectly timed pass through the Kings’ backline for Onyekachi Okafor, who finished with composure to give the visitors an early advantage. Kings, undeterred, responded swiftly: Rakib Hossain charged down the right flank only to be felled inside the box by Abdulla Omar, and Dorielton Gomes calmly converted the resulting penalty to restore parity in the 26th minute.

The second half saw the Kings assert themselves more aggressively. Dorielton struck again in the 52nd minute, meeting a precise cross from Foysal Ahmed Fahim to guide the ball past the goalkeeper with a volley. Fortis, however, refused to capitulate, with Dawa Tshering delivering a dangerous corner in the 75th minute that defender Ananta Tamang slotted home to level the scores, setting the stage for a tense finale.

Brazilian forward Dorielton, however, had the final say, completing his hattrick in the 78th minute to seal the win and take his tally to 12 goals, further solidifying his position as the league’s leading scorer.

In the day’s other fixture, Abahani secured a 2–1 away win over Brothers Union in Munshiganj.

Nigerian forward Emeka Ogbugh gave Abahani an early lead in the fifth minute and doubled it in the 70th at Shaheed Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium. Pakistani forward Shayak Dost pulled one back for Brothers in the 87th minute, but the late surge was insufficient to earn a point.

The victory moved Abahani up to third with 19 points from 11 matches, while Brothers remained seventh.

Elsewhere, Arambag beat PWD SC 3-0, courtesy of a first-half double from Ghanian forward Kwame Kizito and his compatriot Shadrach Lantei-Mills putting the game to bed in the 73rd minute at Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur.

The BFL will resume on April 10 after a nearly four-week break, with the Abahani–Mohammedan clash headlining Matchday 12.