Usha keep Club Cup title

Sports Reporter

Usha Krira Chakra players take a victory lap after defeating Abahani 3-1 in the Club Cup Hockey final at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium yesterday. Photo: Star

Usha Krira Chakra retained the title of the Club Cup Hockey Tournament with an easy 3-1 victory over Abahani in the final at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.
Fazle Hossain Rabbi, Moinul Islam Koushik and Krishna Kumar struck one goal apiece for Usha before Pukhor Kisha Mimo netted a consolation goal for Abahani. The win took Usha's Club Cup title haul to four, level with Mohammedan SC.
Usha came into the final having scored 28 goals in the tournament and took the lead in the fourth minute when Krishna cut the ball back to Rabbi, who took a reverse-hit to find the back of the Abahani goal.
Usha, apparently playing on counter-attack, and youngster Koushik doubled the margin in the 45th minute with a fierce hit after being set up by veteran forward Maksudul Alam Habul. Usha made it 3-0 in the 66th minute when Krishna hit a rebound from inside the box.
Mimo pulled a goal back in the 69th minute for Abahani, but that was too late as the Sky Blues had to be content with the runners-up trophy for the second successive time.
“Credit goes to the players who performed as a collective unit. It was easy for them to adapt to my strategy as most of them had played under me in the Navy team,” said Usha coach Mamunur Rashid. “We want to carry this performance into the upcoming Premier Division League.”
Abahani's advisory coach Mahbub Harun said they could not succeed due to the failure of the forwards, who failed to execute the finishing moves.
“Usha's defence played really well and blocked all our attacks, but I think we will come back and play better in the Premier Division league,” said Harun.