Kiron propels Mariners
Goalkeeper Mehrab Hossain Kiron put on a valiant display to lead Mariner Youngs Club to a 2-1 win over Abahani at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday as the Motijheel outfit took a two point-lead at the top of the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League. The former national team goalkeeper made a string of breathtaking saves in both halves to thwart a wave of attacks from the joint champions of the last edition.
Mariners took the lead, somewhat against the run of play, through Waqas Sharif in the ninth minute, only to see Shafqat Rasool equalising 13 minutes later. Mariners had the last laugh though as Czech defender Thomas Prochazka converted a penalty corner in the 63rd minute while Kiron made sure Mariners didn't concede any more.
The win took the Motijheel outfit to 40 points from 15 matches and took them two points clear of Usha Krira Chakra, who will take on Mohammedan in their 15th match tomorrow. Whatever the outcome in that match, the league will be decided when Mariners meet Usha in the final match of the league on July 1st.
The start of the match was dominated by Abahani, but Kiron and the defenders kept the Mariners goal guarded. Then Waqas hit on the counter, tapping in from in front of goal after his fellow Pakistani forward Isteaque Ahmed had teed him up with a quick run down the right side of the box.
Kiron and his opposite number Asim Gope made two excellent saves in the space of a minute before Abahani got back into the game as Shafqat brilliantly controlled a long-range lob from Kasif Ali before rounding up the goalkeeper and putting the ball at the back of the net with a tumbling effort.
Both sides wasted a string of penalty corners, and there were long delays regarding umpire's decisions and video referrals, while Kiron kept thwarting Abahani's attacks. His valiant efforts were at last rewarded as Prochazka snatched the victory, flicking home an intelligently worked penalty corner seven minutes before the final whistle.
Meanwhile, Rasel Mahmud Jimmy scored four goals as Mohammedan beat Wanderers 5-1 in the first match of the day.
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