Bangladesh Football League: Kings advance in title race after defeating Fortis

Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomez scored a hat-trick as Bashundhara Kings defeated Fortis FC 3-2 in the Bangladesh Football League (BFL) at Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka on Saturday.

The win solidified the five-time league champions’ top spot in the league table with 24 points from 11 matches and also moved them ahead in the title race. Second-placed Fortis with 21 from 11 matches.

There was a flurry of attacks and counterattacks from the start of the match. Both teams fought evenly in the first half.

Fortis struck first. Nigerian striker Onyekachi Okafor fired a perfect shot into the net in 19th minute.

However, it didn’t take long for the Kings to get back into the match.

Kings forward Rakib Hossain, who was attacking with lightning speed from the right wing, was fouled in the penalty box by Fortis defender Abdullah Omar in the 24th minute.

The referee did not hesitate to blow the penalty whistle. Dorielton scored from a spot kick to equalize the Kings in the 26th minute.

Kings increased their lead after the break. Dorielton scored his second goal in the 52nd minute.

But Fortis were not one to be deterred. In the 75th minute, Anant Tamang scored a brilliant shot from a corner kick by Bhutanese winger Dawa Tshering, leveling the match at 2-2.

Just three minutes after equalising (78th minute), Dorielton completed his hat-trick by beating the Fortis defence. His goal secured a 3-2 victory for Kings.

In the day’s matches, Abahani Limited defeated Brothers 2-1 in Munshiganj and Arambagh defeated PWD 3-0 in Gazipur.

This is the Abahani’s fifth win in 11 matches in the league, which was in third place, now has 19 points.

Arambagh has collected 9 points from 11 matches with two wins. They are in ninth place.