SPORTS REPORTER

Title aspirants Abahani squandered a glorious opportunity to close the gap with leaders Bashundhara Kings after surrendering a lead to play out a thrilling 2-2 draw against the defending champions at the Sylhet District Stadium yesterday.

The result means Kings maintain their six-point gap with Abahani, on third place with 19 points from equal ten matches, after second-placed Sheikh Jamal DC beat Swadhinata KS 3-1 at the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi yesterday.

Meanwhile, at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Flight Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, hosts Saif Sporting Club registered an emphatic 3-0 win over Uttar Baridhara Club while Chittagong Abahani beat Muktijoddha Sangsad 2-1 at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla.

At Sylhet, the home side Abahani expectedly dominated the beginning to create two clear chances before Costa Rican forward Daniel Colindres gave the Sky Blues a deserving lead in the 20th minute with a left-footed drive after Monir Hossain whipped a cross from the right flank.

Seven minutes later, Kings suffered a huge blow as midfielder Sohel Rana was shown the red card for slapping Abahani’s midfielder Emon Mahmud. With a man advantage, Abahani strengthened their foothold in the game, however, Kings goal-keeper Anisur Rahman Zico denied Colindres and Brazilian Dorielton Gomes towards the end of first half.

And at the stroke of half time, Rakibul Hasan destroyed Abahani’s momentum after being sent off in stoppage time as the winger lost his temper and hit Rimon Hossain.

After interval, a determined Kings made the game almost one sided but Rimon and substitute Eleta Kingsly narrowly missed converting two chances, much relief for Abahani goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel, in the beginning of second half. With Abahani looking dead and buried in face Kings’ barrage of attacks, Eleta was once again denied by keeper Sohel on the hour-mark but Eleta found his shot home following a deflection in the 64th minute.

Kings kept pressing through the left flank to get the lead and five minutes later, Robson Da Silva’s clever shot from outside the box, assisted by Masuk Mia, put the away side in the driving seat.

Abahani, shocked by two quick goals, brought on Nabib Newaj Jibon and Jewel Rana and it paid dividends immediately. Brazilian Dorielton Gomes brilliantly levelled the margin in the 84th minute after Jibon and Jewel nicely combined.

With scores tied at 2-2, Kings refused to settle for a draw as Eleta and substitute Suman Reza came close to hitting the winner. In the end though, Kings looked happy to keep their gap with Abahani intact.