Thailand down Hong Kong, face Oman in semifinals

Sports Tuesday 13/March/2018 20:25 PM
By: Times News Service
Thailand down Hong Kong, face Oman in semifinals

Muscat: Playing to a plan and with purpose, Thailand handed Hong Kong a 3-0 defeat in a crucial game of the ongoing Asian Games Hockey Qualifier at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Tuesday.
The victory in the final match of Pool A helped Thailand finish second in the group with six points and set up a semifinal clash with Pool B toppers and hosts Oman.
In the first of two semifinals to be played on Thursday, Bangladesh will take on Pool B runners-up Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh topped Pool A with nine points after routing Afghanistan 25-0 earlier on Tuesday.
Thailand and Hong Kong went into Tuesday’s match with three points each and both had the opportunity to seal a semifinal berth and with that one of the five qualifying places in the 2018 Asian Games.
But it was Thailand who took their chances and emerged the winners thanks mainly to a brace by Borirak Harapan.
After both teams failed to break the deadlock during the first quarters, Harapan put the Thais ahead with a fine field goal five minutes into the second quarter.
Harapan then doubled the lead with another field goal in the 36th minute before Thanakrit Boon Art completed Thailand’s tally with a 55th penalty corner conversion.
Earlier in the evening, Bangladesh were ruthless against Afghanistan pumping in 25 unanswered goals.
For the record, Roman Sarkar and Deen Emon Mohammed scored four goals each. Four of their team mates - Mamunur-Rahman Chayan, Rashel Mahmud, Ashraful Islam and Arshad Hossain - three goals a piece.
Farhad Shetul and Hasan Jubair scored a brace each and Naim Uddin sounded the boards once.
After a day’s break, the action resumes on Thursday when the classification matches for fifth to eighth places and the two semifinals will take place.
The final is scheduled to be played on Saturday.