31st October, Jalandhar: Delhi surprised the crowd here with a sterling performance against the traditional power Air India. Playing their second match in as many days, the Bikas Toppo led Delhi defeated Air India hands down (3-1) to advance into the semifinals of the Dainik Baskar-Tracer Shoes National Championship being staged here at the Olympian Surjit Singh stadium.
Delhi played a great game on Monday when it defeated Mumbai (5-4) in a match where fortunes swung every minute. Delhi continued its form on Tuesday too. The young and energetic outfit kept the tempo of attack from the beginning and got rewarded for that. In the end, Delhi not only scored three goals against much superior Air India, but also annexed crucial three points to majestically march into the semis, after so many decades. Delhi will face emerging Namdharis in the semis on Thursday.
Mumbai based Air India, depleted with its stars attending the national camp, played well, but failed to consolidate the field dominance into goals. The fact that they earned as many as nine penalty corner is an index of their aggression, but with Len Aiyappa failing in his wonted art, the team looked hapless.
On the other hand, the Delhi team, essentially a Punjab and National Bank team converted the team’s first penalty corner in the third minute and then went on gain from strength to strength. Air India stood to the task of guarding the cage for most of the game, stood against the marauding Delhi forwards like Pramod Kumar, but succumbed to sustained pressure midway through the second half. Captain Bikas Toppo and Promod Kumar scored apiece in a 7-minute feat midway in the second half.
Air India scored a consolation goal in the 52nd minute with a Burn Lugun’s free hit deflection, but it fell short of requirement.