SPORTS REPORTER

Title contenders Abahani joined leaders Bashundhara Kings at the top of the Bangladesh Football League following a fortunate 1–0 win over Fortis FC in Cumilla yesterday, marking their first victory over Fortis in three years.

The match at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium was decided within the first minute following an uncharacteristic error from 17-year-old defender Mithu Chowdhury, which resulted in an own goal.

The costly blunder occurred when Abahani forward Mirajul Islam delivered a low cross from the right flank, seemingly destined to be dealt with by Fortis goalkeeper Sujan Perera, who had rushed off his line. However, the SAFF U-20 Championship-winning captain attempted to intervene, only for his mistimed chest-down to send the ball rolling into the unguarded net.

Fortis were unlucky to leave empty-handed after creating several opportunities to equalise. Missing Gambian forward Pa Omar Babou, the attack looked blunt; Essa Jallow and Nigerian Onyekachi Okafor squandered two chances each.

The defeat saw Fortis slip from second to third place on 25 points from 14 matches -- still holding the best defensive record this season, with only eight goals conceded so far. Conversely, Abahani secured their fifth straight triumph to pull level with Kings on 28 points, though the latter have played one match fewer than the Sky Blues.

At Shaheed Miraj-Tapan Stadium in Manikganj, hosts Arambagh KS upset Rahmatganj MFS 1–0, avenging a 3–0 reverse-fixture defeat. Kwame Kizito’s 46th-minute goal lifted Arambagh out of the relegation zone to eighth, with 13 points from 14 games, while Rahmatganj stayed fourth on 19 points.