Abahani Limited qualified for the semi-finals of the Club Cup Hockey tournament as Group-B champions after a 4-2 win over their bitter rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday. Abahani will now face Mariner Young’s Club in the second semi-final of the tournament on May 7, a day after the first semi-final between Mohammedan SC and Group-A champions Usha Krira Chakra will be held.
The Sky Blues prevailed over their arch-rivals throughout the game with a combined effort from their local and foreign recruits.
Abahani took a sixth minute lead with a neat finishing from Maksud Alam Habul. Roman Sarker provided a powerful hit from outside the D-box and Habul found the back of the net with a nice touch.
Pakistani forward Shafkat Rasul took only two minutes to double the lead for Abahani. Roman was again at the helm with a curving cross and Rasul made no mistake to send the ball home.
Habul found his second goal of the day in the 11th minute when he connected home a Mashiur Rahman Biplob’s hit from the outside of the D-box.
Mohammedan reduced the margin five minutes into the second-half through Taposh Barman.
The match was stopped for five minutes after a collision between Mohammedan’s Mustafiz and Abahani’s Toushik.
After the resumption, Abahani found their fourth goal through Roman, who assisted the first two goals, made it 4-1 in the 51st minute with a solo effort before Deen Islam reducing the margin in the 58th minute for Mohammedan.
-With New Age input
