In a pulsating Premier League encounter at Kings Arena, Bashundhara Kings edged past Fortis FC 3–2, thanks to a sensational hat-trick by Brazilian forward Dorelton Gomez. The victory consolidates Kings’ position at the summit of the league with 24 points from 11 matches, while Fortis remain in second place with 21 points from the same number of games. With five league titles already to their name, Kings are now firm favourites in the race for this season’s championship.
From the first whistle, the match was a flurry of attacking play and counterattacks. Fortis struck first in the 19th minute when Nigerian striker Onyekachi Okafor, capitalising on a defence-splitting pass from Pa Omar, fired a precise shot into the net, putting Kings momentarily on the back foot.
Kings responded swiftly. In the 24th minute, Rakib Hossain surged down the right flank before being brought down in the penalty area by Fortis defender Abdullah Omar. The referee promptly awarded a penalty, which Dorelton converted two minutes later to level the score. Tensions flared immediately after, with Abdullah receiving a yellow card for pulling Rakib down. The first half ended 1–1.
After the break, Kings intensified their pressure. In the 52nd minute, Faisal Ahmed’s measured cross found Dorelton, who tapped in his second goal of the match, putting Kings ahead 2–1. Fortis, however, remained resilient, and in the 75th minute Ananta Tamang met a soaring corner from Bhutanese winger Dawa Shering to restore parity at 2–2.
The match’s decisive moment arrived just three minutes later. Dorelton struck again, skilfully evading Fortis’ defence to complete his hat-trick, securing a 3–2 victory for Kings and sending the home crowd into delirium.
Elsewhere in the league, Abahani Limited defeated Brothers 2–1 in Munshiganj, registering their fifth win of the season and climbing to 19 points from 11 matches. Meanwhile, Arambagh overcame PWLD 3–0 in Gazipur, moving to 9 points with two wins from 11 matches, currently occupying ninth place.
League Snapshot After 11 Matches
| Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bashundhara Kings | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 12 | 24 |
| Fortis FC | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 11 | 21 |
| Abahani Limited | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| Arambagh | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 9 |
Dorelton’s hat-trick highlighted the decisive influence a single player can have on a game, underlining why Bashundhara Kings are now the team to beat. With the season still unfolding, the league promises more excitement as teams jostle for positions in the championship race.
The result not only boosts Kings’ morale but also raises anticipation for their upcoming fixtures, with fans eagerly awaiting further displays of attacking brilliance from their Brazilian star.