Pakistani penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas slammed four goals including a hattrick to power title-aspirants Abahani to a massive 9-1 win over Ajax Sporting Club in the Super League encounter of the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League at the Maulana Bhasani National Stadium yesterday.
Apart from Abbas, Puspkor Khisha Mimo struck twice while Tariq Aziz, Modasser Ali and Rubel Hossain netted one goal apiece for the winners. Abahani dominated the game from the outset and took a comfortable 4-1 lead in the first half.
Having thrashed Mariner Youngs 5-0 in their previous game, the Sky Blues started this match in the same fashion scoring the first three goals within 17 minutes. Abbas grabbed all the three from penalty corners, with a combination of his compatriot Modasser Ali and veteran local midfielder Moshiur Rahman Biplob.
Having taken a three-goal lead, Abahani coach Kawsar Ali made a few changes bringing in the likes of Mimo, Hasan Jubair, Ajit Kumar. Mimo wasted no time to pay back his coach's faith scoring the team's fourth goal in the 33rd minute.
Ajax, who had suffered a 7-1 reversal to Abahani in their first leg, gave hint of a fight-back pulling back one just a minute before the break. Imtiaz Ahmed Rubel pushed the ball home from close range which happened to be the only goal of the game for Ajax.
After the break, Abahani become more destructive as Abbas converted the fourth penalty corner. The Sky Blues capitalised on all of the penalty corners they earned in the game, something they had failed to do in their last match of the first-leg against Mohammedan.
Then Modasser, Tariq and Mimo tore apart the Ajax defence and added four more goals. Mimo struck the sixth while Modasser scored the seventh and then fed Tariq for the eighth. Rubel completed the rout two minutes from time.
The 10th victory in 11 matches raises Abahani's points to 30, three behind arch-rivals Mohammedan.
Source: thedailystar.net
