Holders Abahani conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Sheikh
Jamal DC in their Bangladesh Premier League encounter at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Nabib Newas Jibon had provided a deserved lead to Abahani with a header in the 57th minute, but substitute Zahed
Parvez Chowdhuty scored late three minutes into stoppage time to help Sheikh Jamal earn a share of the spoils.
With third draws in 10 outings, both sides remained in joint second
ABAHANI VI SHEIKH JAMAL
(JIBON 57) (ZAHED 90+3)
position with 21 points each, five behind league leaders Chittagong Abahani.
Following the demise of Abahani's long-serving assistant coach Amalesh Sen, the boys in Sky Blues turned out like a determined outfit and they looked good to extend their winning streak to four matches by creating lot of chances before breaking the deadlock. However, they failed to hold the lead due to some shaky performance in the rest of the second half.
Jibon twice came close to giving Abahani the lead but was denied brilliantly on both occasions by Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper Mitul Hasan before Rubel Mia rattled the Sheikh Jamal crossbar in the stoppage time of the first half.
After resumption, Abahani came out strongly to build up a nice attack from the left flank, with Jibon playing one-two with left-back Wali Faisal before taking the right position inside the box and nodding in Wali's cross home in the 57th minute.
However, the five-time champions played rather ordinary football after taking the lead and chased the ball as Sheikh Jamal launched numerous attacks. Sheikh Jamal's substitute striker Raphael Odoyin squandered two easy chances before Abahani defender Tutul Hossain Badsha made a goalline save.
With the game into the third minute of added time, Sheikh Jamal found a deserved equaliser when Solomon King ran down the left flank to drive a low shot that went to unmarked Zahed Parvez Chowdhury after a deflection of an Abahani defender and the midfielder placed the ball into the net past Abahani goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel.