Abahani held by Brothers

Six-time champions Abahani were held to a 1-1 draw by Brothers Union in their Bangladesh Premier League fixture at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The Sky Blues took a deserved lead through Kervens Belfort in the 36th minute, but Brothers mounted late challenge to eke out a point, thanks to Vali Jonov Otabek's 76th-minute equaliser.

The draw denied Abahani the chance to join leaders Saif SC at the top of the table as the Sky Blues, who had beaten Bangladesh Police 2-0, moved to four points from two matches. Brothers, meanwhile, moved to two points after holding Sheikh Russel to a 1-1 draw in their opening match.

Abahani had the lion's share of possession in the first half, with Belfort, Sunday Chizoba and Nabib Newaz Jibon threatening the opposition. Sunday and Belfort though failed to connect to Saad Uddin's inviting cross on 28 minutes.

Jibon had a shot cleared off the goalline by Brothers defender Lancine Toure on the half-hour mark, but he set up Belfort for the opening goal six minutes later.

The local marksman dribbled past a defender and delivered a superb cross for Belfort, which the Haitian smashed home from inside the box.

Abahani took the slender lead into the break but failed to keep the momentum after the restart as a couple of substitutions, including the withdrawal of midfielder Edgar Bernhardt, handed a spirited Brothers side the initiative.

Belfort had a chance to extend the lead when he rose high to meet substitute Mamunul Islam's cross, but the header went straight at the opposition goalie.

Brothers were threatening to equalise all the while and it came in the 76th minute when Otabek raced onto a header from Kingsley Chigozie before finding the back of the net with a diagonal shot.