Rich fare await Mumbaikars as the city’s own All India event, Mumbai Gold Cup, will witness four exciting quarterfinals on Sunday.
In the morning, Indian Oil will engage Indian Navy followed by Western Railway – South Central Railway quarters in the noon. Local outfit Central Railway will take on emerging CAG
in the next. The day will conclude with Air India – BPCL encounter. The BPCL today lost to CR today
Inspired Central Railway down BPCL 4-3
Mumbai, December 12: Central Railway humbled defending champions Bharat Petroleum 4-3 in an absorbing and thrilling Pool-A match of the Dabang Mumbai – 50th All India Bombay Gold Cup hockey tournament, at the MHAL-Mahindra Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The scores were level at 3-all at the end of the first session.
Central Railway got off to a rousing start with Yuvraj Walmiki drawing first blood in the very second minute. The mercurial forward trapped Victo Singh’s forward pass before beating goalkeeper Swinder Singh with a rasping drive from the right of the circle. Eight minutes later he did well to deflect home Harmeet Singh powerful centre from the left and two minutes later Devendra Walmiki added the third from a penalty corner. Victo’s push in was stopped by Harmeet and Devendra sidestepped the onrushing defender and unleashed a crisp angular reverse hit which whizzed past goalkeeper Swinder into the goal.
However, Central muffed up some sitters. BPCL regrouped after those early setbacks to launch a series of attacks and managed to open their scoring when Gurpreet Singh struck from a contentious penalty corner awarded by umpire Vijay Singh in the 25th minute. The railwaymen had protested about the umpire’s decision but he was unmoved.
Later international S.V. Sunil made some darting runs down the flanks and with support from his teammates scored two quick goals to help BPCL restore parity. In the 32nd minute he scored after receiving a short pass from left outer Somanna Pradhan and in the next minute cut into the circle on his own and beat Central goalkeeper Avadhut Solankar with a snap hit.
After switching ends, BPCL mounted pressure on the Central citadel, but found it difficult to break through the rival defence who put up a good showing before regaining the lead from a swift counter. Victo worked in tandem with Devendra to open up the rival defence before hitting the target with a fierce shot. A couple of minutes later Devendra set up Affan Yusuf and he sounded the borads but the goal was disallowed as umpire Vijay pulled him for an infringement.
In the remaining period Central continued to defend well and managed to hand on dearly to their lead to troop out worthy winners.
Both Central and BPCL were already through the quarter-finals. Central who topped the pool will meet CAG and BPCL will run into Air India in Sunday’s quarter-finals.
Later in the evening, South Central Railway, Secundrabad bounced back strongly after Thursday’s 1-7 drubbing they received at the hands of Indian Oil, to record an authoritative 6-0 win against Mumbai Customs in the final Pool-D league match. The win ensured South Central finished second behind Indian Oil and a place in the last eight. Customs, who had lost 4-8 to Indian Oil, only required a draw to qualify for the quarter-finals.
South Central scored their goals through Gurbhej Singh(10th min), Atul (22nd min), Sadeep Singh (25th min) Poonacha M.G. (38th min), Mayank James (39th min) and Ayappa (65th min).
Results: Pool A: Central Railway 4 (Yuvraj Walmiki 2nd, 10th, Devendra Walmiki 12th, Victo Singh 53rd) beat BPCL 3 (Gurpreet Singh 25th, S.V. Sunil 32nd, 33rd).
Pool D: South Central Railway 6 (Gurbhej Singh10th, Atul 22nd, Sadeep Singh 25th, Poonacha M.G. 38th, Mayank James 39th, Ayappa 65) beat Mumbai Customs 0.
Sunday’s quarter-final schedule
8.30 am: Indian Oil Vs Indian Navy
2.00 pm: Western Railway Vs South Central Railway
4.00 pm: Central Railway Vs CAG
6.00 pm: Air India Vs BPCL