Kings cruise past Mohammedan; Arambagh break duck with long throws

Rakib Hossain and Dorielton Gomes scored a goal each as Bashundhara Kings consolidated their lead in the Bangladesh Football League with a 2-0 win over defending champions Mohammedan at the Kings Arena on Friday.

The victory took the five-time champions to 16 points from six matches, five clear of second-placed Fortis FC. Mohammedan, meanwhile, remained in fourth with seven points. The Black and Whites had beaten Kings twice in the league last season, but this time the early pace-setters struck in the 15th minute when Rakib volleyed home with his right foot on a cross from Faysal Ahmed Fahim.

Kings came close to doubling the lead when an Emmanuel Sunday effort rattled the woodwork, while Mohammedan's Rahim Uddin failed to connect with a side-flick on a header from Emmanuel Keke following a Muzaffarov corner just before the half-time whistle.

In the 74th minute, second-half substitute Cuba Mitchell saw his free-kick narrowly miss the target. A minute later, he was set up for a grandstand finish by Dorielton after a Sunday cross, but the former Fulham youth player sent his effort just inches wide.

Dorielton eventually sealed the win in the first minute of stoppage time, latching onto a long ball, shrugging off Mohammedan skipper Mehedi Hasan Mithu, and rounding goalkeeper Sujon Hossain before slotting into an empty net.

To make matters worse, Mohammedan's influential midfielder Muzaffarov was shown a direct red card after breaking into a scuffle with a Kings player right at the end of the match.

Muzaffarov was shown red card for his angry outburst. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

At the Bir Shrestha Flight Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, Fortis FC edged Rahmatganj 1-0 to move into second place, pushing the Old Dhaka outfit to third. Nigerian forward Onyekachi Okafor scored a 93rd-minute winner, smashing the ball past the Rahmatganj goalkeeper at the near post after racing onto a through pass from Pa Omar Babou.

The win lifted Fortis to 11 points, while Rahmatganj stayed on 10.

Elsewhere, bottom-placed Arambagh benefited from their long-throw strategy and two costly errors from Brothers Union goalkeeper Ishaque Ali to claim their first win of the campaign.

Brothers had a golden chance to take the lead in the 17th minute, but Brazilian forward Marcos Rudwere's miscued effort was comfortably gathered by Arambagh keeper Azad Hossen.

Arambagh went ahead in the 32nd minute when a long throw from Kazi Rahad was flicked on by Mohammad Shawon, the slight touch enough to beat Ishaque. Their second goal came in first-half stoppage time, as another looping long throw from Rahad went straight into the net despite a touch from the Brothers goalkeeper. Ishaque was replaced at half-time, but the damage was already done.

Despite the win, Arambagh remained bottom with four points, while Brothers stayed fifth with seven.