IOC beat Karnataka XI in the quarters
Mumbai, May 17
Captain Deepak Thakur leading by example scored a brilliant hat-trick to help Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) rally brilliantly to overcome Karnataka XI 4-3 in quarter-final match of the DCB Presents Aga Khan hockey tournament – 2011, at the Bombay Gymkhana ground, on Tuesday.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, IOC conceded the lead thrice but fought back gallantly to pull off the win and book their place in the last four. Hamza Mujthaba got the other goal for the winners. Karnataka got their goals through a penalty stroke conversion by Deepak M R and field goals from Muthana P R and Nitin Thimmaiah.
Karnataka have themselves to blame for the defeat as they missed a penalty stroke in the 60th minute and a couple of easy chance late in the game. Deepak’s attempt was saved by Baljit Singh, who dived to his right to push the ball out.
Earlier in the afternoon, Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala scored a well-deserved 4-2 win against outfit Bandra Select in a first round match. The winners enjoyed a narrow 1-0 lead at the end of the first half.
The highlight of the kapurthala side’s victory was the two goals scored by Roop Singh in a space on nine minutes. Deepak and Ranjod Singh got the other two goals for the Punjab team. Peter Fernandez and Saad Pathan wala were on target for the Bandra lads.
Results
1st round: RCF, Kapurthala 4 (Deepak 12th min, Roop Singh 40th, 49th, Ranjod Singh 69th) beat Bandra Select 2 (Peter Fernandez 42nd, Saad Pathan wala 63rd).
Quarter-final: Indian Oil 4 (Deepak Thakur 21st, 67th, 69th, Hamza Mujthaba 46th) beat Karnataka XI 3 (Deepak M R 15th (PS), Muthana P R 34th, Nitin Thimmaiah 63rd).
Today’s sports/ Sports Clock
DCB Present Aga Khan Hockey Tournament: RCF SA, Kaurthala or Companeroes vs Central Railway, 5.00 pm; BEG, Pune vs RCF, Mumbai, 7.00 pm, at Bombay Gymkhana ground, M.G. Road.