Dhaka Jan 21: Defending champions Abahani Limited earned a comfortable win as they defeat Rahmatganj MFS 4-1 in the Grameenphone Bangladesh League at the BSSM Mostafa Kamal Stadium today.

The sky-yellow Dhanmondi outfit, which overpowered Chittagong Mohammedan by 2-1 goals in the last match at Cox’s Bazar, yesterday clearly dominated the first half but did not find any goal though they earned their third victory in this league.

Striker Shakhawat  Hossain Rony struck twice, foreign recruit Frank  and  Awudu Ibarahim scored each for the popular soccer force of the country.

Rahmatganj’s Ugandan skipper Idris Kasiraye headed a Mushfiker Uddin free kick towards the post in the 29^th minute. Abahani’s young goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel who came in the first XI because of regular keeper Ziaur Rahman and Mazharul Islam’s injury, dived his right to save his team this occasion.

However, Rahmatganj lost their spirit after Frank putting the Dhanmondi based team ahead in the 50^th minute with a jaw-dropping effort. He chested-down a rebound and juggled twice before placing on the back of the net with a side-volley while his shot on target from an Awudu chip returned from a Rahmatganj defender.

Rahmatganj’s inexperienced goalie Arifuzzaman Hemel will regret for his second conceding for a long time. He misjudged a harmless cross by Awudu which bounced over his head landing just in front of him four minutes after the hour mark. He starred at rival winger Rony while the ball was just bouncing.

Hemel struggled to find the ball again as he once moved his eyes from it.

Rahmatganj pulled one back in the 70th minute. Paul’s shot from the edge of the penalty box deflected on Abahani defender Samad Yussif and rolled into the net. Custodian Sohel had nothing to do rather watching since he moved towards the opposite direction.

Abahani’s newly discovered striker Rony scored his second of the season in the 73^rd minute placing a Mohiuddin Ibnul Siraji cross on the net. He again found the back of the net six minutes later. Rony utilized a defensive blunder by his opponents to penetrate in the penalty zone and beat Hemel with a strong aerial drive from close.

Abahani deserved the victory dominating the match for most of the proceedings against their middle-rated opponent, the Old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj who got victory over Mohammedan 2-0 in their last match.