Contrasting wins for MSC, Abahani
A star-studded Mohammedan SC registered a hard-fought 2-1 win over title contenders Usha Krira Chakra in the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.
Joint champions Abahani also recorded their first win at the same venue by handing Bangladesh SC a massive 12-2 defeat following their 4-1 drubbing by Usha in the league opener.
Bangladesh SC seemed to bear the brunt of Abahani's loss to Usha with Pakistani Kasim Ali leading the carnage with four goals followed by braces from Sabbir Ahmed Khan and local striking duo Hasan Jubair Niloy and Iqbal Nadir Price. Midfielders Musa Mia and Jahidul Islam Rajon netted one goal each for the Sky Blues.
Indian Gagandip Singh and Tarnail Singh struck one goal apiece for Bangladesh SC in the one-sided affair.
But the day's second match was a fierce fight between Usha and joint holders Mohammedan, who faced a tough challenge from the organised and spirited old Dhaka outfit.
Both sides toiled hard to break the deadlock with Mohammedan coming close to taking a lead in the 18th minute but Pakistani forward Istiaque Ahmed failed to capitalise on brilliant stick-work from Sheikh Mohammad Nannu.
Istiaque, however, provided the breakthrough in the 23rd minute as the Pakistani, receiving a snap shot from Mamunur Rahman Chayan, rounded to take a reverse-hit and found the back of the Usha net.
Usha also came close to equalising the margin in the 32rd minute but veteran Mohammedan goalkeeper Mahbub Ullah Chowdhury Shakil thwarted Moinul Islam Kaushik in a one-on-one situation. Shakil also foiled two successive penalty corners but could not stop Pakistani forward Mohammad Imran, who flicked a Sarwar push to level the margin just one minute before the break.
After resumption, Mohammedan were denied a certain goal from Golam Mostafa Manik before Usha threatened to convert two successive penalty corners in the 55th minute, only to be thwarted again by Shakil. Mohammedan's national striker Rasel Mahmud Jimmy then floated over the crosspiece in a rare failure at the hour-mark.
Mohammedan were awarded a penalty corner with six minutes left, which they availed with specialist Chayan converting to give Mohammedan their second win in as many matches.
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