PSB Overcome ONGC, Air India Thrash SAIL to Enter Gold Cup Semis
Bhopal — Emerging victorious from their respective outings, Punjab and Sind Bank and Air India dribbled their way into the semifinals of the All India Obaidullah Khan Gold Cup Hockey Tournament on Saturday evening.
While the bankers overcame a stiff 3-2 challenge from ONGC, Air India minced SAIL in a one-sided 7-1 contest.
Skipper Mandeep Singh and Gurvinder Singh Chandi scored in the 12th and 15th minutes for the bankers to end the first-half with a 2-0 lead.
Consolidating their hold over the semi-final berth, PSB converted a penalty corner in the 58th minute to move into a near-unassailable position in the match.
Firing out all cylinders in the dying moments of the game, the ONGC found the boards through Divakar in the 59th minute before Dharmender brought them their second goal with just about five minutes to spare for the long whistle.
Falling back on their defences, the bankers foiled several ONGC incursions to ensure that they remained in contention for the Gold Cup.
In the second quarter-final of the day, Air India steamrolled SAIL by a six-goal difference.
While Birender Lakra, Vinay, Valmiki, Upadhyay, Pillay and Amir Khan scored for the winning side, Ekka earned the consolation goal for the ONGC.
Pillay’s two goal effort earned him the man of the match trophy.
Today’s Fixtures
BPCL take on IOC at 6pm
Air India play PSB at 7.45pm
