Usha Krira Chakra’s hopes of retaining the Premier Hockey League title suffered a huge blow when they lost to Mohammedan Sporting Club by 5-3 goals at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday. Russell Mahmud Jimmy became the star of the show by scoring all the five goals including a hat-trick for the winners. For Usha, their Pakistani recruit Aleem Belal also bagged a hat-trick.
With the win, Mohammedan, who are already out of the title race, created a great opportunity for table toppers
Mariner Young’s Club, who need just one point in their last match to lift the title.
On the other hand, Usha, who is currently on 38 points, two points behind Mariners from 15 games, must win in their last game against the league leaders to retain the silverware.
Jimmy scored his fifth hat-trick of the league and with it he became the top scorer of the league with 31 goals from 15 games. Mohammedan went to the break with a 3-1 lead.
Mohammedan took an early lead in the third minute when Salman provided a cutback to Jimmy and the national forward calmly pushed the ball home from a striking distance.
Usha levelled the margin in the 25th minute when Belal converted a penalty corner but Mohammedan restored the lead just four minutes later when Jimmy found the back of the net with a reverse hit following a through of Kamruzzaman Rana.
Jimmy made it 3-1 just two minutes later with a brilliant strike from almost a zero degree angle of the circle on a Salman pass.
Belal reduced the margin in the second minute of the second half from a penalty corner five minute before Jimmy’s fourth field goal.
Jimmy scored his fifth goal with a nice hit from the edge of the striking circle while Belal completed his hat-trick minutes before the final whistle.
In the other match of the day, Abahani Limited registered and easy 6-2 win over Bangladesh Sporting Club at the same venue.
Shakil Abbasi scored brace while Kasif Ali, Sheikh Mohammad Nannu, Rumman Sarker and Razib Das scored one goal each for Abahani.
Belal and Prince scored the two goals for Bangladesh Sporting.
-With New Age input
