In a battle of two arch-rivals, Dhaka Mohammedan SC finished runners up in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2023-24, beating their traditional foe Dhaka Abahani Ltd by 2-1 goals at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Wednesday afternoon.
After the day's outcome, Independence Cup and Federation Cup runners-up Dhaka Mohammedan SC, also finished runners-up in the just concluded BPL, securing 35 points from all 18 league matches, while six-time BPL champion Dhaka Abahani Ltd became third in the league with 32 points.
Women's Football League: Nasrin Sports Academy emerge as new champions beating Dhaka Rangers
Star studded Bashundhara Kings earned a rare feat of winning the treble in the season for the first time, winning the season's all three major football trophies—the Independence Cup, Federation Cup, and BPL.
In the day's match in Gopalganj, Brazilian midfielder Bruno Goncalves put the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani ahead in the 13th minute (1-0), while local forward Arif Hossain restored parity for the black and white Mohammedans in the 29th minute (1-1).
Women's Football League: Siraj Smrity Sangsad advance to 4th slot beating Farashganj SC
In the dying moment, Arif Hossain again came to rescue the Mohammedan SC, scoring the match winner, netting his second goal in the 90th minute of the match (2-1).
In the day's other match, Bashundhara Kings, which clinched the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football title for a record fifth consecutive time with three matches spare, came from behind to beat Sheikh Russel KC by 3-1 goals at their home ground, the Bashundhara Kings Arena, on Wednesday afternoon.
Dhaka Mohammedan, Dhaka Abahani stay in runners-up race in BPL Football
Servian forward V Balabanovic put the Sheikh Russel KC ahead in the 14th minute of the match (1-0), while Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira Damasceno levelled the margin for the Bashundhara Kings in the 47th minute (1-1).
Local forward Rakib Hossain scored the second goal for the Kings in the 76th minute (2-1), while promising striker Sheikh Morsalin sealed the fate of the match by scoring the third goal for the Kings in the 78th minute (3-1).
After the day's league matches, Bashundhara Kings secured 45 points from 18 matches to be the league champions, earning 10 points more than their nearest rivals and league runners-up Mohammedan SC, which bagged 35 points from 18 encounters.
In the day's other matches, Fortis FC defeated Chittagong Abahani Ltd by 3-1 goals, Rahmatganj MFS beat Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 2-0 goals, and Bangladesh Police FC defeated relegated side Brothers Union Club by 2-0 goals at different venues across the country on Wednesday.