A determined Union Bank of India, Mumbai put quite a challenge before going down fighting 2-3 to Punjab National Bank, Delhi in the final Pool ‘D’ league match of the Union Bank of India-52nd Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament, played at the MHAL-Mahndra Stadium, Churchgate on Friday evening.
Punjab National Bank defender Sukhjit Singh (centre) keeps the ball under control as Union Bank of India attackers charge in during their Pool ‘D’ league match of the Union Bank of India-52nd Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament.
Punjab National Bank, winners of the Shastri Hockey and Nehru Hockey tournaments last month, took the lead from a snap field goal through Shamsher Singh in the 11th minute before Sanjay scored the second in the 29th minute to give the Delhi side a 2-0 half-time lead.
However, after switching ends, Union Bank came back strongly and scored twice through Nitin Kumar in the 48th minute and Aakib Rahim in the 54th minute to level the scores. Union Bank continued to press for another goal, but in the process left their guard down at the back and conceded a third goal which dashed their fight back. Sukhjit Singh netted Punjab Bank’s winner in the 61st minute.
Earlier in the afternoon, Former champions Indian Oil, Mumbai eased to a fluent 6-3 win against Indian Navy, Mumbai. Indian Oil skipper and Olympian Raghunath Vokkaliga (39th & 66th minutes) and Affan Yousuf (58th & 70th minutes), both played the lead roles scoring two goals each, while Vikramjeet Singh (7th minute) and former India star Bharat Chikara (29th minute) added one each to complete the success of the team. The Naval outfit scored through Ved Prakash (20th), S. Kumar (45th minute) and Mohit S. Thakur (47th minute).
Both Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India advanced to the quarter-finals from Pool-D. Punjab Bank finished on top and will meet Pool-C runners-up Western Railway, while Union Bank will take on Indian Oil in the last eight round.
Meanwhile in a match played under lights late on Thursday evening, South Central Railway and ONGC played out a 2-2 draw.
Results – Pool-C: Indian Oil 6 (Vikramjeet Singh 7th, Bharat Chikara 29th, Raghunath Vokkaliga 39th-PC, 66th-PC, Affan Yusuf 58th, 70th) beat Indian Navy 3 (Ved Prakash 20th S. Kumar 45th-PC, Mohit S. Thakur 47th).
Pool-D: Punjab National Bank 3 (Shamsher Singh 11th, Sanjay 29th, Sukhjit Singh 61st) beat Union Bank of India 2 (Nitin Kumar 48th, Aakib Rahim 54th).
Pool-A: South Central Railway 2 (Niyaz Rahim 1st, Suman Kujur 40th) drew with ONGC 2 (Ajay Yadav 27th, Bikas Toppo 55th).
Quarter-final line-up:
CAG (Comptroller & Auditors General), Delhi vs South Central Railway, Secundrabad.
BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Coropration Limited), Bengaluru vs ONGC (Oil & Natural Gas Corporation), Delhi.
Indian Oil, Mumbai vs Union Bank of India, Mumbai.
Western Railway, Mumbai vs Punjab National Bank, Delhi.
Saturday’s Quarter-final matches:
2.00 pm: ONGC vs BPCL
4.00 pm: South Central Railway vs CAG.