Dhaka – Coming from behind, Club Cup champions Dhaka Abahani Limited beat defending champions Dhaka Mariner Young’s Club by 2-1 goals in their last super-five match of the Green Delta Insurance Metropolis Premier Division Hockey League at MaulanaBhashani National Stadium on Tuesday, making the title-race exciting.After the match, the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit, which went down in the title race after losing both of their vital matches against Mohammedan SC and Mariner Young’s in the league phase, smartly returned to the tittle battle beating both the teams in super-five stage of the league.
Earlier in the day’s first match, Mohammedan SC earned an emphatic 6-0 goals victory against Sonali Bank Club in another super-five encounter at the same venue and needed just a draw against holders Mariner Young’s Club on Thursday to clinch the league crown.
With the day’s feat, Dhaka Mohammedan SC not only took the joint lead in the league table securing 39 points from 14 matches, but also returned to the winning run after conceding 2-3 goals defeat against their traditional rivals Dhaka Abahani Limited in the previous match on Monday.
Club Cup champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd also secured 39 points from all 15 matches to stay in the title race while holders Dhaka Mariner Young’s Club with 36 points from 14 matches needed an outright victory against Mohammedan to stay in the race.
So, the fate of the league depends on the crucial last league match between two neighbours — Dhaka Mohammedan SC and defending champions Dhaka Mariner Young’s Club. Sonali Bank will encounters Ajax SC in the day’s other match at 1:45 pm at the same venue.
In the day’s first match, national forward Rasel Mahmud Jimi made a hat-trick scoring three field goals in the 42nd, 55th and 67th minutes after Indian Gurjinder Singh struck twice in the 7th and 16th minutes and Rabbi Salehin netted one in the 28th minute for the traditional black and white team.
In the day’s 2nd match, coming from behind, Dhaka Abahani Limited upset title Dhaka Mariner Young’s Club by 2-1 goals at the same venue.
Farhad Ahmed Setul put Mariner Youngs Club ahead in the 33rd minute from a penalty corner (1-0) while Roman Sarker restored the parity for Abahani Limited in the 44th minute by a field goal (1-1).
Ashraful Islam scored the match winners for Abahani Liminted in the 51st minute from a penaty stroke (2-1).UNB
