Six-time champions Dhaka Abahani crushed newcomers Swadhinata 4-1 in the 12-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla Thursday.
For Dhaka Abahani, Brazilian striker Dorielton Gomes scored twice in the 24th and 57th minutes, Costa Rican player Daniel Colindres and Brazilian midfielder Raphael Augusto netted one each in the 20th and 77th minutes.
Read: BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings inches away from 3rd league crown beating Ctg Abahani 1-0
Japanese attacking midfielder Yuta Suzuki pulled one back for Swadhinata in the stoppage time of the first half (47th minute).
Despite the day's convincing victory, Dhaka Abahani secured 41 points from 19 matches, seven points behind league leader Bashundhara Kings.
The Kings collected 49 points in 19 matches, and they need just one win in their remaining three matches against Saif SC on July 18, Dhaka Abahani on July 24 and Sheikh Jamal on July 30 to lift the title for the third time in a row.
Swadhinata remained rooted to the bottom of the table with nine points from 29 matches.