Bangladesh: Hosts labour, India blaze
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| Bangladesh |
October 4, 2004
The Daily Star, Bangladesh
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Bangladesh set up a final clash with favourites India in the Under-21 Challenge Cup hockey tournament when the hosts beat Oman 2-0 at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium yesterday.
Russel Mahmud Jimmy and Mazharul Islam Moksed scored either side of the break to record Bangladesh's third win in as many matches of the tournament.
Bangladesh and India, who destroyed Afghanistan 24-0 earlier in the day at the BKSP, are level on nine points and will meet in tomorrow's last league match in the dress rehearsal for the October 7 final.
Sanjay Bir and Jeorge Sebastian each struck five goals while Savio Naik, Bhagwant Singh and Mayur Subbaiah scored three goals apiece for India who led 12-0 in the first half in their scoring festival.
Oman, who lost their second successive match despite fighting all the way, were stuck on three points with a match in hand against Myanmar.
It was the visitors who pushed forward early and earned two penalty corners even before Bangladesh had even made a decent attack. Oman, however, could not utilise the opportunities due to poor finishing.
Bangladesh settled down soon and went ahead through a controversial goal from their fourth penalty corner in the 28th minute. After a faulty stop, Chayan's hit outside from the box was deflected in off Jimmy's stick but the Oman players were protesting the decision claiming there was no touch inside the box.
There were also doubt in minds of the Bangladesh officials who first mentioned Moksed as the scorer of the first goal.
Bangladesh survived a few close calls when Oman pressed hard in search of an equaliser. Goalkeeper Zahid made a superb save on a close-range attempt by Al Shibli while the same forward hit the sidebar just before the break.
The home fans were finally relieved in the 61st minute when man-of-the-match Moksed sealed the victory with another lucky goal. The Oman keeper let the ball go from a long range attempt by Jimmy thinking it will go out but the ball bounced off the post and fell in the path of Moksed whose lightning reflex allowed him to place it home before two nearby defenders could react.
"We missed a lot of chances, otherwise it could have been a 5-0 victory," said Bangladesh coach Qamar Ibrahim after the match.
"The result is not satisfying but I think the team showed better understanding today than our previous matches. We still failed to utilise the penalty corners due to the bumpy nature of the pitch," said the former Pakistan international said.
"It's good to be in the final with a match in hand and I am looking forward to the final. Tomorrow's game will also be important because it will give me insights ahead of the final against a very experienced and matured Indian side," he added.
Today is a rest day in the 5-nation meet.
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