Although Mohammedan lost on the first day of Bengali New Year, Abahani Limited left the field with a win. In the second match of a keenly contested day, the Akashi-Nil jersey holders beat Usha Krira Chakra 3-2.
Usha dropped out of the title race with today’s loss. Their points are 28 in 13 matches. Mohammedan 32 and Abahani and Mariners 31 each in the tied match. There are still two matches left for each team. Now only Mohammedan, Abahani and Mariners will fight for the title.
Usha’s Indian players played in today’s match after getting paid. The old Dhaka club equalized the match despite falling behind by two points. If they scored from the penalty corner in the last minute, they had a chance to leave the turf with one point.
Abahani’s Rakibul Hasan scored a field goal three minutes into the match at the Maulana Bhasani Stadium. Ushar Arshad Ali equalized from a penalty corner five minutes later. In the third minute of the second quarter, Abahani’s Ashraful gave the team the lead again from a penalty corner. Ushar Taiyab Ali equalized in the same quarter. There were no goals in the third quarter. Afnan Yusuf’s field goal in the first minute of the last quarter saw Abahani regain the lead. During the rest of the match, Usha tried to score but failed.
There is a league match tomorrow. Abahani will face Ajax. Abahani’s last match is against Mohammedan on May 19.
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