Abahani Limited’s Shakhawat Hossain Rony (L) heads to score one of his two goals against Team BJMC during their Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Wednesday. — New Age photo

Shakhawat Hossain Rony scored a brace as defending champions Abahani Limited thumped Team BJMC 3-1 in their eighth round match to join Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the top of the Bangladesh Premier League table on Wednesday.
Abahani were in total control of the match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium with Rony giving them an early first-half lead before his senior team-mate Pranatosh Kumar made it 2-0 at the beginning of second half before Elita Kingsley pulled a goal back for BJMC shortly afterwards.
Rony restored Abahani’s two-goal cushion lead soon not only to confirm an easy win for his side but also to attract the attention of the prospective national team coach Lodewijk de Kruif, sitting at the VIP lounge.
Rony, however, squandered at least a couple of scoring chances inside the first thirty minutes, his shot on a cross from Awudu Ibrahim in the 28th minute was not strong enough to beat BJMC goalkeeper Aminul Haque.
But he on the target five minutes later when he headed in a left-hand side cross from Towhidul Alam.
A sudden long-range effort by Abahani’s veteran midfielder Pranatosh deflected off the feet of defender Kestho Kumar and into the net to double the lead.
Kingsley reduced the margin in the 65th minute by heading home a cross from Ismael Bangoura, who floated the ball from the right flank but the goal could not bring them back in the match as Rony scored the third for Abahani within eight minutes.
Rony scored his second, receiving an Atiqur Rahman Meshu square pass inside the penalty area and placing the ball at the near post.
With the second consecutive win Abahani
now have 16 points from seven matches, but they played one game more than the other table-toppers Jamal.
Team BJMC, on the other hand, earned eight points from their seven matches.