Saif Sporting Club forced six times champions Dhaka Abahani Limited to concede 2-3 goals defeat in the 13-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2020-21 at the Banglabandhu National Stadium here on Friday.
Saif SC dominated the first half by 2-0 goals.
After the day ‘s shocking defeat, Dhaka Abahani Ltd went down in the runners-up race with 40 points from 21 matches while Saif SC advanced to 6th slot securing 35 points from 20 encounters.
Three times champions Sheikh Jamal DC are in the 2nd place toppling six times champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd securing 42 points from 20.
Star studded Bashundhara Kings, which smartly clinched league title with four matches to spare last Monday ,further sounded their margin securing 58 points from 21 matches.
In the day’s match, Nigerian booter Kenneth Ikechukwu put Saif SC ahead in the 43rd minute while another Nigerian John Okoli doubled the margin in the stoppage time of the first half (45+2 minute).(2-0).
Haitian forward Kervens Belfort and local striker Jewel Rana scored two quick goals for the sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani in the span of only one minute in the 77th and 78th minutes to level the margin (2-2).
Finally, Nigerian booter Kenneth Ikechukwu scored the match-winner for Saif SC netting his 2nd goal in the 81st minute (3-1).
In the day’s another league match, Bangladesh Police FC outplayed Muktijoddha Sangshad KC by 3-1 goals at the same venue Friday evening, featuring a hattrick by Ivory Coast forward Christian Kouakou .
After a barren first half, Christian Kouakou made a hattrick scoring all the three goals for the Police FC in the 61st, 75th and 85th minutes (3-0).
Another Ivory Coast forward Ballo Famoussa netted the consolation goal for the freedom fighters team Muktijoddha in the 90th minute from a penalty. (3-1).
After the match, Police FC are in the 8th slot collecting 22 points from 20 matches while Muktijoddha SKC at the 11th place with 15 points from 20 encounters.
Source: United News of Bangladesh