bffonline.com, Jan 09:

Local giants and Citycell Bangladesh League title aspirants Abahani, Mohammedan and Sheikh Russel passed their eighth-round hurdles easily as they collected full points in their away fixtures on Saturday.

 Abahani and Mohammedan stayed atop the table with 24 points each while Russel kept the pressure with 22 points after eight rounds. 

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh League will be halted after completion of the eighth-round matches on Monday due to national team’s preparation for the 11^th SA Games. The league will resume in the last week of February, 2010 after the AFC Challenge Cup. 

Dhaka Mohammedan cruised 2-0 against Brothers Union with first half strikes at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium while defending champion Abahani rode on a brace by foreign recruit Sheriff Deen Mohammed to defeat Chittagong Abahani by the same margin at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong.

Samir Omari maintained his scoring spree with yet another double strike to help Russel crush Beanibazar SC 3-0 at the Sylhet Stadium. 

Mohammed Nasir, the right fullback who started in midfield, opened the account for the black and whites in the 36^th minute as his placing shot found the net after a cross from Mamunul Islam. 

The victory was sealed two minutes later when Nasiruddin, a former Army striker, celebrated his first professional league game for Mohammedan with a fine header on a left-flank cross from overlapping fullback Waly Faisal.

The last year’s runners-up got a clear chance to extend their lead in the 51st minute but Emily’s looping header on a high ball by Waly hit the crosspiece.

Brothers, who suffered their second defeat in the run, also had a chance to reduce the margin but Ghanaian forward Enock Bentil’s shot went wide in the injury time.

Ghanaian striker Sheriff Deen Mohammed drew the first blood from a penalty in Chittagong. Sheriff put Abahani ahead from the spot in the 26^th minute and also struck the second for the sky blues in the 73rd minute.

Moroccan marksman Samir Omari slammed in the 25 and 48 minutes for Russel at Sylhet Stadium to take over as the league’s top scorer with nine goals.

Yousuf added the other for the visitors in the 81st minute to complete the rout of Beanibazar.