Sports Desk:

Forward Sumon Reza scored the all-important goal as Abahani Limited earned their first-ever win over Bashundhara Kings in the Bangladesh Premier League when they beat the defending champions 1-0 at the Shaheed Dhirendhranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Friday.

Six-time champions Abahani had previously faced Kings 11 times in the BPL and registered only two draws against nine losses since their first meeting in the league in 2019.

It was also Abahani’s only second win over Kings in their overall 14 encounters in the domestic competitions since their first meeting in 2018 in the Federation Cup, with Abahani winning the match by 3-1 goals.

On the other hand, this was five-time BPL champions Kings’ second defeat in four games in the ongoing league after their loss to Mohammedan Sporting Club by the same margin earlier this month.

Sumon scored the match winner in the second minute of the game by heading home the ball on a cross by forward Shariar Emon from the left.

Last season’s treble winners, Kings, tried hard to make a comeback, but Abahani foiled all their attempts, including keeper Mitul Marma saving a penalty from Brazilian midfielder Miguel Damasceno in the 52nd minute.

In the day’s other match, traditional giants Mohammedan Sporting Club maintained their lead in the 10-team league table with a 3-1 win over Police Football Club at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.

Mohammedan’s Nigerian defender Emmanuel Tony opened the scoring in the 31st minute before his compatriot forward Emmanuel Sunday doubled the margin in the 39th minute.

Forward Al-Amin reduced the gap for Police by scoring in the stoppage time of the first half before Malian forward Souleymane Diabate made it 3-1 for Mohammedan in the 71st minute.

With the day’s results, Mohammedan have earned 12 points from four games, followed by Abahani with nine from four games.

Kings and Police FC were placed fourth and fifth, respectively, with identical six points from the same number of outings.