Leaders Bashundhara Kings continued their unbeaten run in the Bangladesh Premier League with a 2-0 win over bottom side Team BJMC at the Sheikh Kamal Stadium in Nilphamari yesterday.
With their 17th victory win overall and a 12th victory in a row, newcomers Bashundhara went seven points clear of nearest rivals and defending champions Abahani with 52 points from 18 matches. The 12th consecutive victory set a new record for consecutive wins in a single league even though Abahani have a winning streak of 20 games, combining two different editions.
The defeat left Team BJMC at the bottom of the 13-team table with only eight points in 19 matches.
Bashundhara, who thrashed Team BJMC 5-1 in their first meeting in Noakhali, were clear favourites on their lucky home ground where they notched up seven straight victories before taking on BJMC, who could hardly produce any resistance.
The hosts dominated proceeding and made sure play was mostly confined at the BJMC half, earning numerous free-kicks and corner-kicks in the first half. However, they managed to cash in on only one corner on the half-hour mark, thanks to some superb saves from Team BJMC goalkeeper Abul Kashem Milon.
Surviving from an own blunder, goalkeeper Milon denied Kyrgyz midfielder Bakhtiyar Duyshobekov once, Costa Rican Daniel Colindres twice while Bakhtiyar hit the crosspiece in the 27th minute. Milon was then unable to stop a close-range header from right-back Nurul Nayeem Faisal, who rose high to nod home a corner from Colindres to give Bashundhara a deserved lead in the 28th minute.
BJMC found a good opportunity in the 30th minute but captain Eleta Kingsley hit the wall on the edge of the box before Milon once again denied Bashundhara by snatching the ball from the feet of Mohammad Ibrahim in a one-on-one situation in the 36th minute.
After resumption, BJMC strengthened their defence and gave Bashundhara hardly any room to have a shot on target.
Despite their fortified defence, Team BJMC could not stop Bashundhara from scoring another goal in the 81st minute and this time Brazilian Marcos Vinicius, availing a forward-pass from Ibrahim, darted into the box to nutmeg three defenders and place the ball home from the edge of six-yard box.