Musa Mia and Moududur Rahman Shuva sealed Abahani's victory with first half goals at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium as the defending champions maintained their all-win record in the eight-team meet.

Abahani will take on the winners of today's semifinal between Mohammedan Sporting Club and Usha Krira Chakra in Thursday's final.

Mariners rushed early blood in an entertaining match when Shishu earned a penalty corner after nine minutes. The Mariners forward, however, shot the ball wide from close after Sohel's effort on the penalty corner beat Abahani keeper Bappi.

With Musa and Russell Mahmud Jimmy working hard, the sky-blues took control in the midfield and began to slice the rival defence with Shuva and Sumon threatening to score. Sumon was denied a clean hit to goal by inspired defending from Meraj but the pressure told in the 16th minute when Abahani won their only penalty corner.

Issa Mia's powerful hit was blocked by Mariners goalie Jahangir but a lurking Musa made most of the rebound, coolly chipping the ball over the helpless keeper to separate the two sides.

Jimmy's dashing run down the middle then enabled Abahani to double the lead nine minutes later. Sumon, who got the ball from Jimmy, struck the sidebar with a fierce hit but national striker Shuva was in the right position to intercept the ball and fire home.

Mariners sparkled either side of the break but their brief domination was not enough to unsettle a disciplined Abahani backline and their veteran national custodian Bappi, who brilliantly thwarted efforts from Chandan and Rahul during penalty corners just before the short hooter.

Mariners wasted a golden chance early into the second half when they won a penalty stroke after Sohel was fouled by Khokon inside the area. But Chandan failed to bring Mariners back into the game as his low hit from the spot was parried by a diving Bappi.

Abahani enjoyed superior position in the rest of the game but Jimmy failed to score from a handshaking distance while Sumon, set by Jimmy in the dying moment, mishit his chance.