Dhaka derby finds life in Cumilla

Hosts Mohammedan came from behind twice to share the spoils with archrivals Abahani in a Bangladesh Premier League encounter at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla yesterday.

Malian striker Souleymane Diabate first canceled out Abahani's 13-minute lead, provided by Brazil's Francisco Rodrigues in the 17th minute.

Jewel Rana restored Abahani's lead in the 33rd minute before Diabate volleyed home from inside the box in the 66th minute to ensure the first league draw between the sides in six years.

The last draw was a goalless affair in the 8th edition professional of the football league in 2015.

The battle between the country's two traditional powerhouses had once demanded the attention of all the country's football lovers but that shine dulled as the Black and Whites deteriorated over the past decade and the matches became one-way affairs, with Abahani notching five wins in the last six league meetings.

Mohammedan even surrendered meekly to Abahani in the Federation Cup this season but yesterday's battle hand an entirely different air about it as everything was present for the 'Dhaka Derby' outside the capital.

Excitement among players appeared to return in the middle of the green pitch and the referee had to book a player on either team to ease the tension following a few scuffles in front of an electrifying 12,000 spectators in the crowd.

One group turned up sporting the classic shirts while flags adorned with Mohammedan colours as well as portraits of the club's greats, Badal Roy — a Cumilla native.

As in the Federation Cup encounter, Abahani once again capitalised on set-pieces and long throw-ins to take the lead twice but failed to keep up with Mohammedan'a never-say-die attitude.

Despite the absence of some key players, Abahani dominated proceedings before taking the lead through Francisco, who nodded home a Belfort Kervens header following a free-kick before Diabate brilliantly flicked home on a feeble drive from Amir Hakim.

Jewel Rana restored the lead again with an angled shot following another header from Belfort.

To their credit, Mohammedan dominated the entire second half and levelled with another brilliant effort from Diabate, who volleyed past goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel after some feeble defending from 11-time champions Abahani, who could have caught leaders Bashundhara Kings with a fourth straight win. Instead, they slipped to second with 10 points from four matches.