Usha KC clinch Premier Hockey League title
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Usha KC clinched the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League title for the third time in a row beating Abahani Limited by 4-2 goals in the last match at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium in the city Friday, reports UNB.
This was the second consecutive victory for Usha KC against joint champions Abahani Limited after beating the sky-blues also by 4-2 goals in the earlier league.
Maksud Alam Habul struck twice, while Shahidullah Titu and Pakistani Tariq Aziz scored one goal each for Usha KC. Fresh Pakistani recruit Kasif Ali scored the two goals for Abahani Limited. The match was locked 1-1 during the 1st half.
After the day's outcome, Usha KC emerged champions securing 36 points, while last time joint champions Abahani Limited finished runners-up with 31 points, both sides playing all the 13 matches.
Usha coach Raihan Zaheer Ahmed, who was found in an exuberant mood after the match, said they played counterattack all through the match and their target was to keep pressure on opponents. He said they adopted different strategies against their giant opponents.
About their rivals, Usha's Pakistani coach said Abahani Limited failed to play a good game all through except five minutes after levelling the margin in the 1st half. Moreover, they had some injured players.
Replying to a question, Raihan Zaheer said: "We were certain about clinching the league title after the packed match between Abahani Limited and Mohammedan SC in the super league stage."
Abahani Limited coach Mahbub Harun said they missed some easy opportunities in the 1st half that caused their defeat.
He said opportunities don't come repeatedly in a big match. "We played well in the 1st half, but failed to keep the trend in the 2nd half."
Replying to a question, the Abahani coach said their foreign players played well, but the local players were totally off colour in the day.
In the day's match, Habul put Usha KC ahead early in the 5th minute with a push off Anwar close pass (1-0), while Kasif restored parity for Abahani Limited from a penalty corner in the 22nd minute (1-1).
After the breather, Titu scored the 2nd goal for Usha KC in the 36th minute off Aziz pass giving no chance to opponent custodian Zahid Hossain (2-1). Tariq Aziz widened the winners' margin in the 41st minute with a powerful hit off Rajan pass after dodging past an opponent defender in the small box (3-1).
Kasif Ali again scored from a penalty corner in the 55th minute to reduce the Abahani margin (3-2). Habul sealed the fate of the match scoring his 2nd goal, the 4th for Usha KC, with a deft push off a right wing Habul cross (4-2).
Usha KC dominated all through the match and earned a deserving victory, while Abahani Limited, who played attacking hockey in the 1st half, seemed reluctant to play positive hockey in the 2nd half.
Earlier, in the 1st half, Abahani Limited got some real scoring chances, but failed to convert those into goals. Usha KC custodian Mahbub Ullah performed brilliantly under the bar and foiled some real chances created by Abahani Limited.
Roll of Honour (Premier League)
Year Champions Runners-up
1998 Mohammedan SC Abahani Ltd
2000 Mohammedan SC Usha KC
2002 Abahani Ltd Mohammedan SC
2003 Abahani Ltd Mohammedan SC
2004 Usha KC Abahani Ltd
2006 Usha KC & Abahani Ltd (Joints champions)
2008 Usha KC Abahani Ltd
This was the second consecutive victory for Usha KC against joint champions Abahani Limited after beating the sky-blues also by 4-2 goals in the earlier league.
Maksud Alam Habul struck twice, while Shahidullah Titu and Pakistani Tariq Aziz scored one goal each for Usha KC. Fresh Pakistani recruit Kasif Ali scored the two goals for Abahani Limited. The match was locked 1-1 during the 1st half.
After the day's outcome, Usha KC emerged champions securing 36 points, while last time joint champions Abahani Limited finished runners-up with 31 points, both sides playing all the 13 matches.
Usha coach Raihan Zaheer Ahmed, who was found in an exuberant mood after the match, said they played counterattack all through the match and their target was to keep pressure on opponents. He said they adopted different strategies against their giant opponents.
About their rivals, Usha's Pakistani coach said Abahani Limited failed to play a good game all through except five minutes after levelling the margin in the 1st half. Moreover, they had some injured players.
Replying to a question, Raihan Zaheer said: "We were certain about clinching the league title after the packed match between Abahani Limited and Mohammedan SC in the super league stage."
Abahani Limited coach Mahbub Harun said they missed some easy opportunities in the 1st half that caused their defeat.
He said opportunities don't come repeatedly in a big match. "We played well in the 1st half, but failed to keep the trend in the 2nd half."
Replying to a question, the Abahani coach said their foreign players played well, but the local players were totally off colour in the day.
In the day's match, Habul put Usha KC ahead early in the 5th minute with a push off Anwar close pass (1-0), while Kasif restored parity for Abahani Limited from a penalty corner in the 22nd minute (1-1).
After the breather, Titu scored the 2nd goal for Usha KC in the 36th minute off Aziz pass giving no chance to opponent custodian Zahid Hossain (2-1). Tariq Aziz widened the winners' margin in the 41st minute with a powerful hit off Rajan pass after dodging past an opponent defender in the small box (3-1).
Kasif Ali again scored from a penalty corner in the 55th minute to reduce the Abahani margin (3-2). Habul sealed the fate of the match scoring his 2nd goal, the 4th for Usha KC, with a deft push off a right wing Habul cross (4-2).
Usha KC dominated all through the match and earned a deserving victory, while Abahani Limited, who played attacking hockey in the 1st half, seemed reluctant to play positive hockey in the 2nd half.
Earlier, in the 1st half, Abahani Limited got some real scoring chances, but failed to convert those into goals. Usha KC custodian Mahbub Ullah performed brilliantly under the bar and foiled some real chances created by Abahani Limited.
Roll of Honour (Premier League)
Year Champions Runners-up
1998 Mohammedan SC Abahani Ltd
2000 Mohammedan SC Usha KC
2002 Abahani Ltd Mohammedan SC
2003 Abahani Ltd Mohammedan SC
2004 Usha KC Abahani Ltd
2006 Usha KC & Abahani Ltd (Joints champions)
2008 Usha KC Abahani Ltd