Joint reigning champions Abahani Limited held to a 3-3 draw by Mariner Young’s Club in their fourth Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League match at the Moulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday. The Dhanmondi-based side deposited a two-goal lead after conceding two late goals within last seven minutes and squandered a bright opportunity to lead the points table jointly with Usha Krira Chakra.
Abahani have 10 points from four matches to be placed in the second position jointly with Wanderers Sporting Club while Mariner earned four points from three matches.
Club Cup champions Abahani, who handed a 3-2 defeat to Marnier in the first meeting in semi-final of the Club Cup Hockey Tournament, expectedly dominated the match despite conceding the lead.
The match deferred for 40 minutes from the scheduled time due to heavy rainfall.
Mariner stunned Abahani in the seventh minute when Raju Ahmed scored from the close after goalkeeper Ashim Ghop blocked the initial attempt from Moinul Islam Koushik.
Abahani, who boosted with five Pakistani players, took little time to make the thing level when Rummon Sarker hit the board in between the legs of Mariner goalkeeper Mehrab Hossain Kiron in the 14th minute.
Pakistani striker Shafqat Rasool helped Abahani to get the deserving lead in the 30th minute availing a fumble from defender Chandan.
Pakistani Mohammad Irfan made it 3-1 in the 49th minute when he sent the ball to the upper-side of the net from inside the circle.
Mariner, however, displayed some superb performance to score two goals in last seven minutes to snatch one point from Abahani, thanks to Mamunur Rahman Chayan, who converted the penalty corner in the 64th minute before Arshad Hossain leveled the margin in the 70th minute after a nice combination of Pakistani Toufiq and Koushik.
-With New Age input
