Thrice in arrears, a determined Air India fought back and with a bit of good fortune managed to snatch an exciting 3-3 draw with ONGC (Oil & Natural Gas Corporation) in a Pool-B match of the MHAL (Mumbai Hockey Association Limited) Super Division League 2015 and played at the MHAL-Mahindra Stadium, Churchgate on Monday evening.
ONGC attacker Mandeep Antil (left) keeps the ball under controls as he tries to dodge past an Air India defender during a Pool-B match of the MHAL Super League
The oft-crowned champions, Air India with this point, now have 13 points from 5 wins and a draw and are through to the final from this pool. They still have a match in hand against Union Bank of India on Tuesday. ONGC finished with 13 points but finished second as they have an inferior goal-difference.
Last year’s runners-up Air India suffered an early setback when ONGC took the lead through Harsahib S. Shammi, who successfully converted their first penalty corner in the 15th minute. However, ONGC’s joy was short-lived as four minutes later Pawan Kumar scored the equaliser.
But nine minutes later, ONGC regained the lead with Amit M finding the target from a field effort to give his team a slender 2-1 half-time lead. The airmen for the second time drew level when Aiyappa cashed in on a defensive lapse to tap home in the 49th minute before ONGC for the third time in the match went in front through Diwakar Ram’s powerful drag flick from the their third penalty corner of the match in the 53rd minute. Air India not prepared to give up without putting up a fight managed to restore parity when another error by the rival defence saw Pawan Kumar score in the 56th minute.
Earlier in an inconsequential Pool-B encounter, Central Secretariat overpowered SAI (Sports Authority of India) by a thumping 7-2 margin. For Secretariat, Pradhan Somanna scored a hat-trick; Gunasekar struck a brace while S.S. Bundela and Abhishek Singh chipped in with one apiece. SAI skipper Yograj Singh scored both the goals for the team.
In the first match of the day, Central Railway powered by Yuvraj Walmiki’s four goals charged to a 8-4 win against Abhi Foundation in a Pool-A match. The other four goals for Central Railway were scored by Affan Yusuf, Vinit Kamble, Deepak Lakra and Narad Bahadur, while Abhi Foundation scored through a brace from Manish Rana and one each from Ranjeet Singh and Deepak Singh.
Manish Rana (Abhi Foundation), Pradhan Somanna (Central Secretariat) and A.B. Cheeyanna (Air India) were later declared as the ‘Man-of-the-match’ in their respective matches and all three received a cash award of Rs 1,000 each.
Results
Pool-A: Central Railway 8 (Yuvraj Walmiki 14th, 21st, 38th, 66th, Affan Yusuf 16th, Vinit Kamble 17th, Deepak Lakra 32nd, Narad Bahadur 70th) beat Abhi Foundation 4 (Manish Rana 34th, 64th, Ranjeet Singh 52nd, Deepak Singh 54th). Man-of-the-match: Manish Rana (Abhi Foundation).
Pool-B: ONGC 3 (Harsahib S. Shammi 11th, Amit M. 24th, Diwakar Ram 53rd) drew with Air India 3 (Pawan Kumar 15th, 56th, Aiyappa P.R. 49th). Man-of-the-match: A.B. Cheeyanna (Air India)
Pool-B: Central Secretariat 7 (Pradhan Somanna 1st, 44th, 60th, S.S. Bundela 6th, Gunasekar 10th, 16th, Abhishek Singh 25th) beat SAI 2 (Yograj Singh 38th, 63rd). Man-of-the-match: Pradhan Somanna (Central Secretariat).
Tuesday’s fixtures
3.45 pm, Air India vs Union Bank of India (Pool-B).
5.30 pm, Indian Oil vs Namdhari XI (Pool-A).