Mohammedan’s struggles continue in BFL

Defending champions Mohammedan Sporting Club’s struggles continued in the Bangladesh Football League as the Black and Whites were held to a 1-1 draw by Bangladesh Police in their third meeting of the season at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Friday.

The Motijheel-based outfit have endured a difficult campaign from the start of the season, largely due to a financial crisis that also led players to boycott training on several occasions. Although the club has since appointed a new board of directors, Mohammedan’s fortunes remained unchanged after the league resumed last week.

They suffered a defeat to Fortis FC in their first match after the resumption, and Friday’s stalemate meant Mohammedan recorded their fifth draw in 11 league matches, alongside four defeats and only two wins.

The Black and Whites now sit sixth in the standings with 11 points, five behind fifth-placed Bangladesh Police, who have now held Mohammedan to a draw for the seventh time in 12 league meetings since 2021.

Mohammedan were fortunate to avoid defeat in Cumilla, as Uzbekistan midfielder Muzaffarjon Muzaffarov rescued them with an eye-catching equaliser from outside the box three minutes after Brazilian forward Paulo Santos had given Police a 39th-minute lead from the penalty spot, following a couple of missed chances earlier in the game.

After the break, Police continued to dominate and created two more opportunities, but failed to capitalise, either due to poor finishing by Paulo Santos or a brilliant save from Mohammedan goalkeeper Sujan Hossain, who tipped a powerful effort over the crossbar.

Mohammedan nearly snatched victory in stoppage time when substitute Saurov Dewan saw his attempt blocked by goalkeeper Rakibul Hasan, while another effort went inches wide of the near post.

Meanwhile, at the Birshrestha Shaheed Flight Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, Rahmatganj MFS registered their fifth win of the season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Fakirerpool Young Men’s Club.

The result strengthened Rahmatganj’s hold on third place with 18 points from 11 matches, three behind joint leaders Bashundhara Kings and Fortis FC, both of whom have played one match fewer.

Gambian forward Solomon King, Rafiqul Islam and Ghanaian striker Ernest Boateng scored one goal each in the one-sided contest.