Dhaka Mariner Young’s Club hardly had to sweat as they emerged champions of group A thrashing Ajax SC by 4-0 goals in the Khaja Rahmatullah Club Cup Hockey at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium on Thursday.
Ajax can consider themselves lucky not to go down by by a much bigger margin as as their goalkeeper Yasin Arafat Himel gave his heart out with brilliant save after save. Himel alone foiled at least five goals in the either half of the match.
Mariners, boasting eight national team players dominated all over but a packed Ajax defence and the heroics of Himel deprived them of a bigger victory.
They stamped their authority in the very 7th minute of the match with defender Farhad Ahmed Shitul converting a penalty. However despite many openings Mariners failed to extend the lead in the first half.
Just one minute after the resumption the three national forward Pushkor Khisha Mimo, Hasan Jubaer Niloy and Mainul Islam Kowshik combined together to score the second with Kowshik finishing the job with a close push. Minutes later Kowshik ruing his fortune as his cracking hit bounced back from the side post.
Youngster Hasin Arman Rup added the third in the 56th minute after a combined move and Shitul returned to score the fourth off another spot hit in the 67th minute completing the rout.
The defeat saw Ajax crash out of the meet with consecutive defeats. Victoria with the merit of beating Ajax cruised into the semis from the group.
