Debutants Oman sent higher-ranked Bangladesh out of the semifinal race while keeping their hopes alive with a stunning 4-2 win in a Pool B match of the ninth Asia Cup hockey tournament here today.
By virtue of this victory, 36th ranked Oman avenged their 1-4 drubbing at the hands of the same opponents in the FIH World League Round 2 in New Delhi earlier this year.
Oman were content playing the waiting game and the 31st-ranked Bangladesh looked out of sorts.
Oman capitalised on Bangaldesh's fragile backline and scored through Hashim Ghanim Ramadan Al Shatri (29th), Mohammad Hoobais Al Shar (43rd), Rajab Bhasin Khatar (45th, 59th) to register the upset win and their first points in the tournament.
For Bangaldesh, Mohammad Roman Sarkar (53rd) and captain Md Mamunur Rahman Chayan (69th) were the goal-getters.
Bangladesh were undone by the poor work of their forwards who failed to utilise the opportunities that came their way.
Oman were cautious in their approach but when scoring opportunities came their way they grabbed it with both hands.
Oman took the lead from one such opportunity through a field goal from Hashim Ghanim Ramadan Al Shatri as Bangladesh defence was caught napping.
Oman doubled their lead in the 43rd minute through Mohammad Hoobais Al Shar, who converted their first penalty corner.
Two minutes later, Oman once again caught Bangladesh off-guard and increased their lead with a field goal through Rajab Bhasin Khatar.
Bangladesh, however, managed to reduce the margin in the 53rd minute with a field goal from Mohammad Roman Sarkar.
Oman earned back-to-back penalty corners in the 58th minute and Khatar converted one to score his second goal of the day and help his side restore the three-goal lead.
Bangladesh pulled another back in the dying moments of the match through a penalty corner conversion by skipper Chayan, but it was not enough to save them from humiliation.
Oman will next play defending champions Korea in the last pool engagement on Wednesday while Bangladesh will be up against two-time champions India.
