Karnataka XI keep hopes alive

Karnataka XI pipped Panposh XI, Orissa 2-1 in a Group B tie to enhance their hopes of a semi-final berth, in the 47th Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the MHA-Mahindra Stadium on Friday.

Playing their opening match in the competition, Karnataka XI were kept in check by the talented Panposh until a double strike late in the first half put the latter in the deficit and made their task ahead difficult.

K.M. Somanna’s 24th minute opener and M.K. Muddappa’s strike two minutes later for Karnataka XI knocked out the sting of Panposh’s challenge and put them under pressure.

By then Karnataka XI, who next take on Air India in a crucial tie, had warmed up and discovered their rhythm as they combined well to make regular moves into the Panposh citadel.

Panposh, who lost their opening tie against Air India and are out of contention, tried hard in search of goals in the second half but they failed to breach the defence of experienced opponents.

Panposh’s efforts were rewarded late in the day as they scored a consolation goal through drag flicker Amit Rohitdas’s penalty corner conversion in the 61st minute. They received another opportunity to draw level, but the Orissa lads frittered away a last minute penalty corner as Karnataka XI heaved a sigh of relief.

Earlier, in Group C, Western Railway upset former champions Border Security Force (BSF) in a 3-2 thriller. But Western’s win enhanced group leaders Indian Oil’s chances of a semi-final berth.

BSF, who next on Indian Oil, have an uphill task of winning by a 10-goal margin in their concluding tie, after IOC thrashed Western 9-1 in their opener to remain on course.

Chinglen Sana scored the first hat-trick of the competition for Western Railway, while Harbhajan Singh and Harpinder Singh scored for BSF.

Results: Group B: Karnataka XI 2 (K.M. Somanna, M.K. Muddappa) bt Panposh XI 1 (Amit Rohitdas).

Group C: Western Railway 3 (Chinglen Sana 3) bt BSF 2 (Harbhajan Singh, Harpinder Singh).

SATURDAY: 2.15 p.m. Punjab & Sind Bank vs Indian Navy (Group D); 4.15 p.m. Army XI vs South Central Railway (Group A)