Mumbai regain National crown

Man of the match Alden D’Souza nets brace

BHOPAL: Three time champions Mumbai overcame Haryana 3-2 in
a thrilling championship round to regain the 63rd Rangaswamy
Cup Senior National Hockey Championship at the floodlit
Aishbagh Astroturf Stadium, Bhopal on Sunday.

In a match that could have gone either way, Mumbai were
forced to endure a determined second half challenge from
Haryana, who were eager to lay their hands on the
prestigious title in their maiden attempt.

Following an evenly balanced first quarter, in which both
teams tried to hold possession, Mumbai shot into the lead
after a couple of raids with Alden D’Souza’s blinder of
a reverse hit from the edge of the circle on the left
piercing through a stunned Haryana defence in the 22nd
minute.

Taken aback by the sudden deficit, Haryana retaliated by
earning their first penalty corner in the next minute where
Surendra Kumar hit wide and in the 26th minute Naveen Antil
hit a weak shot off Sandeep Kumar’s pass that Mumbai
goalkeeper Sudhir Dixit blocked and cleared away to safety.

Mumbai, who last won this title in 1989, went into the half
time with a crucial lead as they resumed an eventful second
half with a degree of confidence. Seven minutes after the
lemon break, Mumbai earned their second penalty corner and
the ever reliable Gursevak found the net to give his side a
comfortable cushion.

But a gallant Haryana ignored the deficit and in the 44th
minute Munish Rana reduced the margin in a goalmouth melee.
With Haryana’s hopes alive, Rana’s effort set the tone
for a high voltage entertainer for the remainder of the
match.

Mumbai enhanced their lead when man of match Alden
D’Souza fired his second goal after brilliantly trapping
Vikram Yadav’s through and beating goalkeeper Ankit
Gulia.

Haryana refused to give up and defender Hansraj pushed home
with a vengeance in the 56th minute off their second penalty
corner, an effort that brought his side back into the match
and put Mumbai under immense pressure until they heaved a
sigh of relief on hearing the hooter.