Faraz’s hat-trick puts AI into S-Fs
LUCKNOW: On a day when defending champions Railways had to struggle hard against last year’s runners-up Punjab and Sindh Bank before scripting a thrilling 2-1 win, Mohd Faraz hogged the limelight for experienced Air India, netting a hat-trick at the Senior Men’s National Hockey Championship (A Division) here on Thursday.
Despite trailing by a solitary goal in early minutes of play, Air India bounced back into the match through Faraz, who converted three penalty corners in a row to help side make it to the semi-finals with 3-2 win against Hockey Odisha, at the Padamshree Mohd Shahid Stadium. Punjab, and Petroleum Sports Promotion Board too made it to the semi-finals, notching up contrasting wins.
Much to the surprise of Air India, right-in Ashok Lakra sounded the board with a quick release of the ball in the very second minute to put Odisha into lead (1-0). However, two penalty corner conversions by Mohd Faraz in the span of four minutes (29’, 33’) in the second quarter saw Air India take a 2-1 lead.
Excitement rose to its peak when Odisha bounced back in the game once again, striking their second goal a minute before the half time through Nilam Sanjeep Xess, who converted a penalty corner to level the score again (2-all). But Faraz’s hattrick PC conversion in the 50th minute ensured Air India’s win.
Earlier, it remained the same old story for defending champions Railways, who struggled a lot before outplaying last year’s runners-up PSB. In the last year’s final, Railways had a thrilling 3-0 win over PSB in penalty shootout, and things weren’t different even on Thursday when Railway men had to fire all cylinders for a win in the first knockout game of the day. Punjab, Air India and Petroleum Sports Promotion Board too made it to the semi-finals, notching up contrasting wins.
Things started unfolding quite early in the game when Railways shot into lead through Sheshe Gowda, who converted team’s first penalty corner at ease (1-0) in the very second minute. Before Railways could go for another one through a field goal from Karanpal Singh in the 45th minute (2-0), PSB men raised their attacks and pushed the rivals back with a foray of attacks.
Luck didn’t favour PSB, which missed a number of goalscoring opportunities. However, they had their first success three minutes before the hooter when Geet Kumar struck a field goal to make the score-line 1-2. But, thereafter time ran out for them.
Both Punjab and Comptroller and Auditor General of India played some good hockey in the second quarterfinal before formers winning the tie by 5-4 in penalty shootout, the two teams were locked in 1-1 draw at the end of the regulation time, and a stunning save by Paras Malhotra in shootout helped Punjab win the encounter in style.
The fourth quarterfinal between PSPB and Hockey Chandigarh turned out to be a story of missed chances, but PSPB managed to beat the rivals by 3-0. Harjeet Singh scored the first one, before Gurjinder Singh popped up in the 32nd minute with a PC conversion (2-0).