Usha sink Mariners

Defending champions Usha Krira Chakra notched up their third consecutive win of the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League by outplaying Mariner Youngs Club 4-1 at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.

Mariners earned the first two penalty corners (PC) of the match, but former national player Mamunur Rahman Chayan failed to beat the Usha goalkeeper Abu Sayeed Nippon on either occasion. Usha, on the other hand, took full advantage of their first PC in the 21st minute, with Pakistani defender Alim Belal scoring from Krishna Kumar's drag. While Mariners pressed hard for the equaliser, it was Usha who doubled the advantage, thanks to a brilliant solo effort from striker Pushkor Khisha Mimo in the 32nd minute.

Mariners pulled one back through Ashraful Islam in the 61st minute, but Usha scored two more, with Hasan Jubayer Niloy and Mahbub Hossain adding their names to the score-sheet in the final four minutes of the match.

This was the first defeat for Mariners, who played with only one foreign player against the five foreigners fielded by Usha.