CHANDIGARH: Three goals in the space of 11 minutes helped Namdhari XI bounce back from being down 2-4 to script a memorable 5-4 victory over Bharat Petroleum in the quarterfinal league of the Jindal Steel 46th Nehru hockey tournament at the Sector-42 Stadium here on Sunday.
The victory helped Namdhari Xi make the semifinals with six points, as the second team from the group, behind Indian Oil (7).
Bharat Petroleum was sitting pretty following goals by Gurpreet Singh (2), Ravi Pal and Pundalik Bellary midway through the second half, when Namdhari XI asserted its strike power to tilt the balance. The teams had locked 1-1 at halftime.
Harpreet Singh and Gurmeet Singh had scored the early goals that had put Namdhari XI in the lead twice. Malak Singh, Harpreet Singh and Harmeet Singh hammered the goals in the 56th, 65th and 67th minutes respectively for a memorable finish for the team.
In another match, Indian Oil outclassed Punjab and Sind Bank 3-1 after trailing 0-1 at halftime. It was Daler Singh who put the Bank team in the lead in the 25th minute. Didar Singh struck two penalty corners in the 39th and 44th minutes to put Indian Oil in command, and Hamza Mujtaba consolidated the position with a goal in the 58th minute. — Special Correspondent