Abahani sink Mohammedan

Abahani set up a semifinal clash against Mariner Youngs Club after outplaying Mohammedan 4-2 in the final Group B fixture of the Marcel Club Cup at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday. The Sky Blues, who had started the campaign with a hard-fought draw against Sonali Bank, dominated proceedings and notched the deserved victory to emerge champions of Group B. They will face Mariners in the second semifinal on May 7 following the first semifinal between Mohammedan and Usha Krira Chakra on May 6.

The Dhanmondi outfit took the lead in the sixth minute, with Maksudul Alam Habul flicking a hit from Rumman Sarker. The lead was doubled two minutes later when Pakistani recruit Shafkat Rasool beat the Mohammedan keeper after receiving a pass from Rumman. Habul then made it 3-0 in the 11th minute, with Rumman being the provider yet again.

Mohammedan, who could not field any of their five foreign recruits due to not having the registration papers prepared, pulled one back through Tapash Barman in the 40th minute. But Abahani restored the three-goal cushion 11 minutes later when Rumman, a midfielder of the national team, got his name on the scoresheet with a fine solo effort.

Deen Islam pulled another back for Mohammedan in the 58th minute, but that effort proved too little too late. The match was, meanwhile, halted for five minutes during the second half following a scuffle between the two sets of players.

In the day's other match, Sonali Bank registered a 6-2 victory against Wari Club.