Defending champions South Central Railway, Secundrabad got off to a flying start defeating local outfit Mumbai Customs 4-0 in a Pool-A league match of the 52nd Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament, played at the MHAL-Mahndra Stadium, Churchgate on Monday. Raju Pal (3rd min), Ajit Pandey (8th min), Innocent Kullu (30th min) and Lovepreet Singh (70th min) scored the goals for the Secundrabad side.
Later in the evening, Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) of India, Delhi rallied to overcome another Mumbai-based team Central Railway 4-2 after leading 2-1 at half-time.
Central got off to a perfect start and took the lead through Vinit Kamble who after picking up Victo Singh measured pass slotted home past CAG custodian Mrinal Choubey in the very third minute.
Stung by that setback CAG regrouped and started to attack the citadel and earned a penalty corner in the 29th minute. Full backs Chandan Singh firm push went in off a defender’s stick to put the teams on level terms.
CAG continued to press forward and six minutes later snatched the lead when the lanky Nitin Timmaiah with a square hit found Imran Khan unmarked on the left. Imran tarpped the ball and swiftly fired past Central’s goalkeeper Avadhut Solankar on the stroke of half-time.
In the second minute on resumption, the Delhi outfit increased their lead when Mithlesh Kumar tapped home after receiving Timmaiah’s long hit from the left and he was again on target with the fourth goal following a melee in the 52nd minute. In between those goals, Central scored their second when Rajendra Pawar slapped home from close in the 44th minute.
Cuptain Singh hammered home the fifth in the 68th minute to seal CAG’s win.
Results – Pool-A: South Central Railway 4 (Raju Pal 3rd, Ajit Pandey 8th-PC, Innocent Kullu 30th-PC, Lovepreet Singh 70th) beat Mumbai Customs 0.
Pool-B: CAG (Chandan Singh 29th-PC, Imran Khan 35th, Mithlesh Kumar 37th, 52nd, Cuptain Singh 68th) beat Central Railway (Vinit Kamble 3rd, Rajendra Pawar 44th).
Tuesday’s matches:
2.00 pm: Indian Navy vs Western Railway – Pool-C.
4.00 pm: Indian Air Force vs Union Bank of India – Pool-D.