In every tournament the semifinal phase is the most exciting one, and it was no different at KSHA Stadium in Bangalore.
On Saturday, in the ongoing Chief Minister Cup semis, the crowd was entertained to the hilt before Indian Oil and Army XI came out of tight situations to deservedly enter the Sunday Final.
It will be between Indian Oil Vs Army XI in the Bangalore bonanza at tomorrow 19.30 hrs
While Indian Airlines defeated BPCL by an odd goal in six, Army XI came from behind to equalize 3-3 when three minutes left for the regulation time, and then in the ensued tie-breaker, they could convert all the five strokes to win the exciting semis 8-6.
Young Army won the hearts at the floodlit match, which was witnessed by sizeable crowd, showing an aggressive brand of hockey and never say die spirit.
Whether it is the Chitaranjan’s goal – he was top scorer of the PHL Second division in 2005 – or veteran Ignace Tirkey’s guile close range scoop, the young army men were the cynosure of all eyes.
They were trailing all through the match, Samir Dad and Brendra Lakra Sr.’s goals taunting them till three minutes left in the clock.
Ignace’s goal at that point, which came after sustained Army men attack, clipped the wings of Air India, which was then grounded by the army men in the tie-breaker. Extra – time of 15 minutes did not yield any goals to break the ice.
Umpires Palangappa, who otherwise was authoritative and precise with his decisions, erred in the dying moments of the game; even did not oblige the genuine protest of the Army men. Air India’s clearance of the ball off the fifth and last penalty corner was faulty – the ball was hooked out by Sandeep Michael above his head, rising his the stick above the shoulder, a clear case of dangerous play. Umpire did not give another penalty corner. It is a fatal mistake, but the army men got their poetic justice in the tie-breaker, converting all of them.
In the first semifinal, despite repeated prompting by tireless midfielder Sabu Varkey BPCL could not equalize, and had to end the day on losing note. IOC’s winning score featured a brace of goals from Prabhjot Singh.