Abahani returned to winning ways after three matches in the Nitol Tata Bangladesh Premier League by handing a 2-1 defeat to Team BJMC at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Portuguese winger Leonildo Suares and Ghanaian hitman Awudu Ibrahim struck one goal apiece to push Abahani to 43 points from 23 matches, nine behind league leaders Sheikh lamal DC.

Abahani have virtually no hope of regaining the prestigious league title they have clinched four times as the Sky Blues can end the season with a maximum of 55 points if they win their remaining four games while leaders Sheikh Jamal need only four points from as many matches to ensure their second professional football league title.

However Abahani have a good chance of finishing second as they are five points clear of third-placed Mohammedan SC, who now have 38 points from 23 outings.

Back to the game, Abahani grabbed the lead in the 20th minute. Ibrahim played to Suares on the right flank and the Portuguese winger darted into the box to drive a low shot past BJMC goalkeeper Arifuzzaman Himel.

After conceding the lead, BJMC started to put pressure on their mighty opponents and almost levelled the margin on the halfhour mark but Nabib Nawas Jibon saw his angular shot just miss the mark despite beating Abahani goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Shohei. BJMC came close twice more but Saiftil Islam Saif was denied by goalkeeper Shohei on both occasions before defender SM Rajib headed an Abdullah Parvez corner home to level the margin in the 37th minute.

Abahani took five minutes to restore supremacy as Osei Morison played to Ibrahim on the left flank and Ibrahim beat the BJMC goalkeeper with a powerful shot to ensure Abahani's 11th win of the league.