Abahani, Mariner set up final

Defending champions Abahani and Premier League champions Mariner Young's Club rode on their foreign recruits to cruise into the final of the Khaja Rahmatullah Club Cup hockey tournament yesterday.

The Sky Blues inflicted an 11-1 defeat on Victoria SC in the first semifinal while Motijheel giants Mariner Young's notched a 4-0 win over Sonali Bank in the second semifinal, both at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium.

Striker Izwan Ferdaus, one of Abahani's three Malaysian recruits, netted four goals while local youngster Mohammad Mohsin added three. Penalty corner specialist Ashraful Islam then chimed in with two while Azwar Bin Rahman and Shohanur Rahman scored a goal apiece for the defending champions.

The Sky Blues went ahead in the second minute of the game, with Ashraful Islam converting the first penalty corner. Izwan, who made 102 appearances for Malaysia before hanging up his boots after the Rio Olympics qualifiers in 2016, doubled the lead two minutes later with a brilliant hit and doubled his own tally from a quick attack in the 10th minute.

Mohsin extended the lead with a reverse hit in the 20th minute before connecting with a cross to score the fourth in the 23rd minute. Azwar scored a minute later.

Shohanur resumed Abahani's scoring spree in the 47th minute from a penalty corner while Izwan scored again two minutes later before adding another in the 53rd minute. Ashraful netted his second from a penalty corner in the 64th minute while Mohsin completed the rout in the 66th minute.

Meanwhile, Mariner Young's fielded three Indian recruits - Yograj Singh, Parampreet Singh and Shaibaz Shaikh, but banked on goals from local stars to see off Sonali Bank later in the day.

National striker Hasan Jubair Niloy scored in the 8th and 49th minute while Mahbub Hossain added the other in the 55th minute from a penalty corner to confirm their final berth. The final will take place at 6:00pm today.