Ctg Abahani thrash Baridhara

Title contenders Chittagong Abahani fired on all cylinders to roar to a massive 6-1 win over newly promoted Uttar Baridhara Club in their JB Bangladesh Premier League encounter at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh yesterday.

Mohammad Ibrahim struck a brace while Haitian Leonel Saint Preux, Zahid Hossain, Shakil Ahmed and Raihan Hasan struck one goal each to take Chittagong Abahani to the solo lead with 11 points from five outings. Khalekuzzaman Sabuj struck the consolation goal for Uttar Baridhara, who suffered their fourth straight defeat since their memorable 1-0 win over Sheikh Russel KC.

Having played four big matches against Abahani, Mohammedan SC, Sheikh Russel KC and Sheikh Jamal DC, Chittagong Abahani excelled in all departments against the weaker Uttar Baridhara, who also conceded five goals against Sheikh Jamal in Chittagong.

Although it was a team performance for the Independence Cup champions, there were a few noteworthy individual performers -- Zahid, Preux and Ibrahim -- as they put up perhaps their best performance in the league so far.

Zahid was excellent after finding a place in the starting eleven for the second time and the winger put Chittagong Abahani ahead with the fastest goal of the ongoing league as he headed home a cross from Ibrahim 30 seconds into the match.

Baridhara provided a semblance of resistance after equalising in the fifth minute through Sabuj but since then the promoted outfit were unable to foil the wave of attacks from Chittagong Abahani, who restored the lead in the 26th minute through an angular shot from Preux that beat goalkeeper Mohammad Razib.

Then Ibrahim struck two successive goals within a span of seven minutes, fed by Zahid and Preux from the flanks in front of an open net in the 39th minute and the stoppage time respectively.

After resumption, Slovakian coach Jozef Pavik brought a few changes in place of Zahid, Preux and defender Sohel Rana, but there was no shortage of attacks from Chittagong Abahani with substitute winger Shakil and substitute defender Raihan striking in the 86th minute and in the stoppage time of the second half respectively.