Khulna make it three-in-three

Saif Power Group Khulna registered their third successive victory in the Hockey Champions Trophy with a 3-1 win over Rupayan City Cumilla in their crucial match at Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium today.

With the third win in eight matches, Khulna brightened their chances to move into the knockout stage with nine points from eight matches while Cumilla have 13 points from eight matches.

After the goalless first half, Tanzim Ahmed gave Khulna the lead in the 50th minute after diverting a fierce hit from Raju Ahmed Tapu but the lead lasted only four minutes with Korean Kim Sung Yeob converting a penalty after goalkeeper Biplob Kujur made a foul inside the circle.

Austrian forward Mortiz Frey restored Khulna's lead in the 57th minute with an eye-catching reverse hit before wrapping up the victory two minutes from full-time by scoring his second goal from close range. 

Acme Chattogram, who sit at the top of the table with 16 points from eight matches, have qualified, while Metro Barishal beat bottom-placed Walton Dhaka 4-2 in the evening game to move into second place.

The top four teams will move to the knockout stage with the top two set to play the qualifier, while the third and fourth-placed sides will play the eliminator.