Day V
14.10.2015: Bengaluru Cup Day 5 – MEN

ONGC edge out star-studded Air India 4-3

Bengaluru, 14 Oct 2015: ONGC edged out star-studded Air India 4-3 in the men’s league matches of the 2nd Bengaluru Cup hockey tournament at the Bangalore Hockey Stadium turf under lights here on Tuesday.

ONGC took a 4-1 lead with goals from Diwakar Ram (Penalty corner – 5th min), Harpal Singh (Penalty stroke – 21st min), Gurwinder Singh Chandi (43rd min) and Tyron Pereira (46th min). For Air India, Pawan Kumar (10th min), Prabodh Tirkey (PC-56th min) and Nitesh Kiro (60th min) reduced the margin but fell short of a draw.

In a fast-paced match, ONGC began with an early penalty corner conversion by Diwakar Ram in the 5th minute but Air India levelled the scores by 10th minute with Pawan Kumar scoring a superb goal off a fast diagonal cross from Shesha Gowda BM. After receiving the ball, Pawan turned around near the left backline and sent in a stinging back-hander from zero angle and the ball zoomed into the boards leaving rival goalie Navin stranded.

However, ONGC raised the tempo and came into their own scoring three goals to take a 4-1 lead against the last-year finalists. With a goal-bound ball hitting a defender’s leg, a penalty stroke was awarded to ONGC in the 21st min and Harpal Singh drew the goalkeeper to the wrong side before finding the net (2-1). Gurwinder Singh Chandi’s powerful reverse hit off a pass from Preetinder Singh from top of the circle made it 3-1 in the 43rd minute and within three minutes Tyron Pereira deflected a Mandeep Antil shot into the goal to take ONGC 4-1 up.

Later on, Air India switched up gears and played aggressive hockey but could only reduce the margin through a Prabodh Tirkey direct hit off a short corner in the 56th minute and a field goal by Nitesh Karo in the 60th minute. Thereafter, they tried hard but could not find the equaliser.

Bengaluru Cup Day 5 – Women

MP Academy girls drub Karnataka XI 3-0

Bengaluru, 14 Oct 2015: Defending champions MP Academy defeated Karnataka XI 3-0 in the women’s league matches of the 2nd Bengaluru Cup hockey tournament at the Bangalore Hockey Stadium here on Wednesday.

Skipper Shivani put MP Academy in the lead in the 23rd minute and Sidhi Singh struck in the 31st minute to make it 2-0 at the break. In the second half, MP girls rounded off the tally 3-0 when Reena Khokhar converted a short corner in the 62nd minute.

Karnataka XI and MP Academy had even share of exchanges in the first 20 minutes before the local girls missed after a good move which saw Rashmy PP deflect from a long cross from Komala but the ball missed the target by inches. Within two minutes, MP Academy opened their account with skipper Shivani scoring into an open goal from close quarters after Sidhi drew Karnataka goalkeeper Sandhya out and returned a short pass into the goalmouth (1-0).

Thereafter, MP Academy never looked back with Sidhi Singh in action once again in the 31st match. Following a defensive lapse by Anitha Kumari B of Karnataka, Sidhi stepped in and sent a stinging reverse hit to the boards (2-0). Later in the 61st minute, Reena Khokhar’s direct hit from the team’s second penalty corner saw the visitors earn full points.

BANGALORE CUP DAY IV:



Army XI rally to hold defending champs IOCL

Bengaluru, 13 Oct 2015: Army XI rallied brilliantly to hold defending champions Indian Oil Corporation Limited to a 3-3 draw in the men’s league matches of the 2nd Bengaluru Cup hockey tournament at the Bangalore Hockey Stadium turf here on Tuesday.

Yuvaraj Walmiki (16th minute), Inderjit Singh (24th min) and Prabhjot Singh (50th min) scored for IOCL while Biraj Ekka (14th min), Vishwa Thakur (54th min) and Chandan Aind (63rd min) were successful for Army XI.

Army XI drew the first blood in the 14th minute with a field goal from Biraj Ekka but the experienced IOCL drew parity in the very next minute when their striker Yuvaraj Walmiki struck a field goal. IOCL took the lead in the 24th minute through skipper Inderjit Singh in the 24th minute to take the break at 2-1.

After the cross-over, Oilmen increased the lead in the 50th minute with veteran Prabhjot Singh making it 3-1 scoring off a long diagonal cross from Yuvraj.

Thereafter, Army XI came into their own to put pressure on the rivals and reduced the margin when Biraj Ekka set it up for nicely for Vishwa Thakur, who banged into the boards (2-3). With seven minutes to go, Army XI raised visions of an upset, making it 3-3 when Chandan Aind struck the equaliser with a diving deflection in the 63rd minute and Army XI earned a last-minute short corner too but IOCL defended well to share a point each.

Second Match

Bengaluru, 13 Oct 2015: ONGC and Karnataka XI played a 2-2 draw in the men’s league matches of the 2nd Bengaluru Cup hockey tournament at the Bangalore Hockey Stadium turf under lights here on Tuesday.

After a barren first half, Karnataka shot into the lead in the 58th minute with Poonacha MG but ONGC struck back in the 62nd minute through a penalty corner conversion by Diwakar Ram. Then ONGC went ahead 2-1 when Harsahiv Singh Shammi scored in the 64th minute. However, MD Raheel scored the equaliser for Karnataka in the 68th minute as the teams split the points.

In the slow-paced match, both the teams made repeated raids but lacked sting upfront in the first 40 minutes. Harsahiv missed a couple of chances for ONGC with Karnataka defenders Darshan and Dung Dung playing well. Home team’s Pradhan Somanna too moved back to assist the defence.

Pradhan also set up the first goal for Poonacha in the 58th minute forcing ONGC to increase the pace. Diwakar Ram flicked low in to the boards from the team’s sixth penalty corner and then Harsahiv scored off a fast cross from Sumit to make it 2-1 in favour of ONGC.

But the Karnataka team managed to restore parity two minutes before the hooter. Off a raid from the right flank, Nitin Thimmaiah sent in a stinger but the rival goalkeeper padded it off. Then Raheel picked the rebound and shot home as the crowd erupted into loud cheers.

MP Academy beat Central Railway 3-2

Bengaluru, 13 Oct 2015: MP Academy defeated Central Railway 3-2 in a women’s league match of the 2nd Bengaluru Cup hockey tournament at the Bangalore Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday.

MP Academy scored two goals in the first five minutes through skipper Shivani Singh (2nd min) and Manmeet Kaur (5th min) and struck the match-winner through R Ramnugaihzuali in the 65th minute. Central Railway rallied to make it 2-0 in the second half with field goals from Ponnamma Mallamada in the 43rd minute and Kavita Vidyarthi in the 53rd minute.

Shivani surprised the rival defence with a quick goal to hoist the lead for MP Academy in the 2nd minute and within three minutes the MP girls earned their first penalty corner. Despite a bad stop Vineeta pushed the ball to the left and Manmeet Kaur sent a reverse hit to sound the boards (2-0).

After trailing 2-0 for better part of the game, Central Railways pulled one back with Ponnamma scoring off a cross from Kavita Vidyarthi in in the 43rd minute. Ten minutes later Kavita scored one herself after former India star and skipper Soundary Yendala dribbled down the right backline dodging past two defenders and gave a short reverse pass to Kavita, who tapped into the goalmouth.

The equaliser brought some energy into the game but MP Academy sealed the issue with a match-winner five minutes from time with a goal from Ramnugaihzuali following a move from the left flank.

BANGALORE CUP 2015 DAY III

MEN: Air India beat BPCL

Bengaluru, 12 Oct 2015: A brilliant brace including a late goal by Joga Singh put paid to the hopes of Bharath Petroleum Corporation Limited and helped Air India earn full points with a 2-1 victory in the men’s matches of the 2nd Bengaluru Cup hockey tournament at the Bangalore Hockey Stadium turf here on Monday.

In an evenly-contested match, Air India took the lead in first half with a brilliant goal in the 22nd minute. Off a raid from the right flank, Prabodh Tirkey sent in a stinging hit from outside the circle and Joga Singh managed to find a subtle deflection into the goal but the BPCL players contested the decision. The umpires consulted each other and ruled in favour of Air India.

After the cross-over, Air India continued its raids but found BPCL earn their first penalty corner after a sudden counter attack in the 45th minute. Gurpreeth Singh took a powerful but low drag flick which was blocked by Air India goalkeeper but international Hari Prasad converted the rebound in a giffy to leave no room for the custodian the second time around.

Three minutes from time, Joga Singh was in his elements once again scoring the match winner through a field goal from a goal-mouth melee.

Earlier, star-studded Haryana XI defeated Karnataka XI 4-2 in the women’s matches. After a Pinki Balhara brace, Monica Dahiya scored a field goal while Devika Sen converted a short corner for Haryana while BM Komala and Hima George scored two penalty corners for Karnataka.

WOMEN: Haryana overcomes Karnataka

Bengaluru, 12 Oct 2015: Haryana XI defeated Karnataka XI 4-2 in the women’s section of the Second Bengaluru Cup hockey tournament at the Bangalore Hockey Stadium here on Monday.

Star-studded Haryana, with three Indian players in their ranks, began aggressively forcing three penalty corners in the first seven minutes, and took a 2-0 lead with Pinki Balhara scoring a double in the space of two minutes. In the 15th minute, she hoisted the lead following a defensive lapse and in the very next minute she moved into the goal area from the left and sent a short pass to Preeti, who returned it, as Pinki moved into the goalmouth and slapped in to beat the goalkeeper from close quarters.

Karnataka shot back with a penalty corner goal in the 21st minute, a direct hit by BM Komala to make it 2-1 and kept the hosts in the hunt.

However, Haryana women increased the lead in the 24th minute through a field goal from Indian player Monica Dahiya, who slapped in a cross from the right to stun the Karnataka goalkeeper Sandhya to make it 3-1.

After the breather, Haryana women raided the rival citadel repeatedly forcing four short-corners in succession and succeeded in converting the last set-piece goal in the 45th minute to make it 4-1 when Devika Sen found the target.

Within five minutes, Karnataka converted their second penalty corner through Hima George to pull one back (4-2) but Haryana put paid to their hopes forcing another two futile penalty corners. Haryana converted one out of the ten penalty corners while Karnataka converted both their short corners.