Last three times champions Bashundhara Kings and Federation Cup champions Dhaka Abahani Limited returned to the winning run with comfortable victories in the ongoing eleven-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2022-23 on Friday.
League leader Bashundhara Kings, which tasted their first defeat in the league losing to Bangladesh Police FC by 1-2 goals in the last match, today (Friday) regained their original form to beat lowly Chittagonj Abahani Ltd by 2-0 goals at their home ground---Bashundhara Sports Complex here.
Brazilian footballer Miguel Figueira put the Kings ahead in the 18th minute from a penalty (1-0) while another Brazilian striker Dorielton Gomes sounded the Kings margin in the 51st minute (2-0).
Ctg Abahani were restricted to 10-man in the 18th minute of the match as their Farhad Mia got marching order.
Former champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd also smartly returned to the winning way outplaying Sheikh Russel KC by 3-1 goals at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla Friday afternoon after suffering 2-3 goals defeat against minnow Chittagong Abahani in the previous match.
Nigerian forward Emeka Ogbugh scored twice for the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani in the 32nd and 77th minutes while Costa Rica forward Daniel Colindres opended Abahani account in the very 7th minute.
Dipok Roy netted consolation goal for Sheikh Russel KC in the 85th minute.
In the day's another match, Federation Cup finalist Dhaka Mohammedan SC Ltd defeated Sheikh Jamal DC by 1-0 goal at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj Friday afternoon.
After a barren first half, Sazzad scored the match winning goal for the traditional black and whites Mohammedan in the 52nd minute.
After the day's matches, last three times BPL champions Bashundhara Kings are in handshake distance from league crown securing 43 points from 16 matches.
Federation Cup champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd are in the distant 2nd place in the eleven-team fray collecting 33 points from 16 encounters while Dhaka Mohammedan SC advanced to the 3rd slot with 22 points.
Sheikh Russel KC went down to the 4th slot from 3rd place despite of 22 points due to poor goal difference while Sheikh Jamal DC went down to the 5th place with 21 points.