Bangladesh: Abahani's cup of joy
 |
| Bangladesh |
November 9, 2004
The Daily Star, Bangladesh
> Page Views 1277
Mariner bewitched
Abahani Krira Chakra staged one of the greatest comebacks in the history of domestic hockey when they overturned a 3-0 deficit to win a classic Club Cup final 4-3 against Mariner Youngs Club yesterday.
The popular Dhanmondi outfit almost revisited the ghost of last year's final when a spirited Mariner took a stunning 3-0 lead at the breather thanks to a fantastic hattrick by ace forward Rafiqul Islam Kamal.
But the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium witnessed a dramatic second half revival where Abahani's Indian recruit Praksh Calke matched the brilliance of Kamal with the game's second hattrick before Russel Mahmud Jimmy broke the Mariner hearts with a 68th minute winner.
The second title triumph for the Sky Blues also erased the bitter memories of last year's troubled final which they lost to archrivals Mohammedan Sporting Club on penalties.
The defeat on the other hand left Mariner shell-shocked after the Arambagh-based club came so close to winning their first domestic title.
Abahani began brightly and looked like the team to score in the first 18 minutes before Kamal broke the deadlock with his first touch of the ball.
The ace marksman, who switched to Mariner this year from Mohammedan, showed in the final that he had not lost any of his blistering speed despite gaining weight. He pushed his first goal in the 18th minute after Abahani defenders failed to clear a right side free hit taken by Pakistani midfielder Munaim Selim.
The same combination conjured the second goal nine minutes later and this time Kamal received a quickly taken free hit before stunning the rival defence and goalkeeper Bappi with a reverse flick from the top of the D-box.
With Abahani 2-0 down they went all-out exposing their defence and Pakistani Yamin Bhatti, taking a long ball from their own half, made a solo run and dribbled past the lone defender Rama Rao before setting Kamal free for his third goal.
But two tactical changes by Abahani coach Mahabub Harun made all the difference after the break. Young Rajib Ahmed Issa came in for Nakib and the BKSP boy in company with experienced Musa Mia simply tore the Mariner defence apart.
Taking the ball from Issa, Musa found Prakash at the left side of the penalty area and the Indian made no mistake to score with a neat and powerful hit in the very first minute of the second session.
Paraksh was now finding his rhythm and scored twice inside four minutes during the last quarter of the match. The Indian forward scored his second goal with a flick off a pass by Issa in the 61st minute. He them completed his hattrick when he pushed the ball home from handshaking distance from a penalty corner.
Having failed to hold on to a three-goal cushion, Mariner gave up hopes and Jimmy's cool finish from a goalmouth scramble two minutes from time sent Abahani into wild celebration.
"We don't know why we did not work as a team in the first half. But under pressure, the players brought out their best. They had the confidence and showed that they can win a match from anywhere," said an elated Mahbub Harun, whose side came back from almost a similar position against Usha in the semifinal, which that ultimately won 5-2 in the tiebreaker.
"They (Mariner) could not sustain the pressure in the second half as we were determined and went all-out. It was team work that won us the title," said Abahani skipper Hedayetul Islam Rana.
"Like our previous matches, we relaxed after taking early lead and Abahani utilised our defensive lapses," said a dejected Kamal, top scorer of the meet with 11 goals including two hattricks.
"I think conceding a goal in the very first minute of the second half was vital,'" he added.
Abahani's Indian defender Ronald Kiran, who was as bright in the final as the previous matches, was adjudged player of the tournament.
Chief of Air Staff and Bangladesh Hockey Federation president Air Vice Marshal Fakhrul Azam distributed the prizes after the final.
Your opinion counts.
Rate this article or enter your comments below.
|
