Abahani break slump, Fortis edge Arambagh in tight encounters

Stung by Monday’s Derby disappointment and burdened by a winless run, Dhaka Abahani stepped onto the Cumilla turf with urgency—and walked off with relief. Their 2–0 victory over Bangladesh Police FC in the United HealthCare Bangladesh Football League 2025–26 signaled a timely resurgence for the Sky-Blues.

Abahani looked sharper and more purposeful from the start at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Souleymane Diabate earned a penalty after being brought down inside the box and confidently slotted it home to put the Sky-Blues ahead. Head coach Maruful Haque, searching for answers, made two changes to his starting lineup by introducing Papon Singh and Md. Enamul Islam Gazi. The gamble paid off handsomely.

Just before halftime, Gazi doubled the lead in style. Meeting a beautifully curled free-kick from Shekh Morsalin, the midfielder struck a thumping volley into the net to make it 2–0, giving Abahani control and confidence heading into the break.

Bangladesh Police FC attempted to shift momentum in the second half, pressing high and creating half-chances, but Abahani’s defence stayed disciplined and compact. Their only setback arrived in stoppage time when Alomgir Molla was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Even so, the Sky-Blues closed out the match comfortably.

The win lifts Abahani to sixth place with four points, while Police remain fifth with five.

At the Shahid Miraz–Tapan Stadium in Manikganj, Fortis FC clinched their second victory of the campaign with a narrow 1–0 win over Arambagh KS. Riyad Uddin Sagor scored the decisive goal in the 16th minute, nudging the ball in from a crowded box following a Pa Babou free-kick. Fortis later went down to ten men when Atiqur Rahman Fahad received a straight red card for an elbow on Shahidul Islam, but Arambagh failed to capitalise. Fortis now sit third with seven points, while Arambagh remain winless at ninth with just one.