MUSCAT, JAN 8
Oman drubbed Thailand 7-1 in their second match of the Junior AHF Cup hockey at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat on Sunday.
In their first match of Pool A, Oman had thrashed Chinese Taipei 9-1. Oman top Pool A with six points from two matches. Thailand are second on three points from two matches. Indonesia and Chinese Taipei who shared spoils with a 2-2 draw in the first match on Sunday are third and fourth respectively with a point each in the group.
Oman opened account against Thailand with a penalty stroke converted by Hussam Bait in the fifth minute.
Aliyas al Noufali raised the lead in the 16th minute with a brilliant field goal in the second quarter. Talal Bait then hit a field goal brace in the 21st and 23rd minute as the Oman juniors went ahead 4-0.
Hussam Bait found the target for the second time in the 30th minute as Oman led 5-0 at the half-time.
Thailand, who edged Indonesia 2-1 in their opening match, found the target for first time against Oman in the 37th minute. Phongsakon Khamkoed struck from a penalty corner to make it 5-1.
Oman players continued their aggressive approach as Asama Barazahan (46th minute) and Hasan al Balushi (60th minute) completed the 7-1 scoreline.
In the first match, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia settled for a 2-2 draw.
Chinese Taipei, who returned after a 9-1 mauling by hosts Oman, showed an improved performance against Indonesia. They went ahead in the 26th minute after Yo-An Wang hit the target from a penalty corner in the 26th minute.
Arthur Wibowo found the equaliser for hardworking Indonesia in the 45th minute but Chinese Taipei reclaimed the lead in the next minute with a field goal from Yung-Sheng Chen.
However, Indonesia pressed hard for their second equaliser and found the target in the 51st minute through Derangga Raditya from a penalty corner.
BANGLADESH PUMMEL SRI LANKA
On Saturday, Bangladesh punished Sri Lanka 14-0 in a one-sided Pool B game.
There were goals in all quarters of the game having scored 2 in the first quarter, 6 in the second quarter, 5 in the third quarter and 1 goal in the last quarter. Amirun Islam struck five goals, Mohammed Hasan and Mohammed Hossain hit three each, while Mohammed Joy scored a brace and Mohammed Ali netted one for Bangladesh.
Amirul Islam, who already accumulated 6 goals in 2 games, was the star of the match.
Bangladesh are on top of the group with six points and will play against Uzbekistan on January 9, while Sri Lanka will have to win against Hong Kong if they want to stay in the Pool B race.
In the second Pool B match on Saturday, Uzbekistan edged Hong Kong by a solitary goal.
Amur Ismoilov scored the all-important goal in the 52nd minute. The 18-year-old Uzbek captain has already scored 5 goals so far in the tournament.
Hong Kong lost their first match to Bangladesh 4-0, while Uzbekistan beat Sri Lanka 7-3 in their opener.
With their second win, Uzbekistan are second behind toppers Bangladesh in Pool B with six points each from two games. Hong Kong and Sri Lanka have no points from two matches.
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