Chief Minister Cup update (First three days)

June 14

Army XI nail ONGC

A scintillating display of skill and Eliazer Lakra’s brace helped Army XI to a 4-2

win over ONGC in the all-India invitation Chief Minister Cup hockey tournament.

Army XI looked in command from the start and, despite a

couple of late goals from ONGC, held on to pick up their second win in as many

matches at the KSHA stadium on Monday.

Olympian Ignace Tirkey gave Army XI the lead in the fifth minute. After being awarded

a penalty corner, Chitranjan Singh pushed the ball to Lakra. Lakra powered the ball

towards an unguarded Tirkey, who deflected the ball to sound the board. Lakra

continued to tease the ONGC defence and scored in the 29th minute from just inside

the semi-circle off Rommel Singh’s defence-splitting pass. Two minutes after the

break, Chitranjan guided the ball to Lakra, who smashed it past ONGC custodian

Kamaldeep Singh for his brace. Army XI rounded off their scoring in the 52nd through

Jerum Kujur.Dharmender pulled one back for ONGC in the 57th minute and Pramod

completed the scoring in the 69th minute.

DYSS lose again

In the day’s second match, IOCL consigned DYSS, Karnataka to their second defeat,

scoring a comprehensive 5-1 victory. The scorers for IOCL were Inderjit Chadda

(31st), Prabhjot Singh (37th, 51st), Deepak Thakur (44th) and Arjun Anjit (53rd).

Aiyappa (50th) scored the sole goal for DYSS.

13th June

Aiyamma powers BPCL

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, spurred by Amar Aiyamma’s treble, rode to a

comfortable 3-1 win over Indian Railways in the all-India invitation Chief Minister

Cup hockey tournament here at the Karnataka State Hockey Association stadium on

Sunday.

There was no sign of over enthusiastic crowd that packed the stadium on the

opening day but the few in attendance were treated with a brilliant display of hockey

by Aiyamma.

The Railways started on a good note with a couple of attempts at the goal but were

pegged right back when BPCL were awarded a penalty corner in the 17th minute.

Prabhdeep Singh, who received the ball from Karmit Singh, fired a shot right at the

Railways’ custodian RK Pfokerlo. Aiyamma collected the ball which took deflection off

Pfokerlo before ending at the back of the net to give BPCL the lead. In the 31st

minute, Sher Singh, who replaced a cramping Pundalik Bellary in the 30th minute,

dribbled past a couple of defenders and slid the ball to William Xalco.

A good stick work from Xalco helped him to find Aiyamma, who angled his stick just

enough to guide the ball into to the goal for a 2-0 lead. After the break, the

Railways’ came up with an all-attack approach. Railways’ effort bore fruit in the

48th minute when Deepak Ekka slotted in an easy shot from the right. But just as the

Railways went for the equaliser, BPCL cashed in on their rivals’ defensive lapse to

earn a penalty corner. Aiyamma took advantage to score his third goal when he

converted the short corner with a powerful strike in the 51st minute.

Sandeep Michael scored a brace as Air India posted a 3-0 win over Odhisha Stars in

the second match of the day.Sandeep found the back of the net in the 23rd minute and

scored his second in the 29th. Skipper Sameer Dad sounded the back board in the 31st

to seal the win for AI.

12th June 2010

Army XI trounce DYSS

India international Chitranjan Singh slotted in two goals as Army XI routed Department of Youth Services and Sports, Karnataka 4-1 in the all-India invitational Chief Minister Yeddyurappa Cup hockey tournament.

The opening encounter at the Karnataka State Hockey Association’s new turf, drew in a good crowd and as expected Army XI shone brightly under lights.

Army XI, led by Olympian Ignace Tirkey, made their intentions clear from the start with a series of attacking moves. DYSS’ goalkeeper Tharun Thammanna did a good job thwarting a couple of shots but his resillience came to an end in the 11th minute. Sunil Ekka deflected Jerum Kujur’s powerful shot to the bottom right-hand corner for the lead. Army XI’s lead, however, lasted no more than six minutes as DYSS responded through Nithin Thimmaiah in the 17th. Appanna made the most Army XI’s defensive lapse to find Nithin, who powered in a shot past the diving Army XI custodian PT Rao.

Barely a minute after DYSS restored parity, Chitranjan surged past three defenders and lobbed the ball over Rao to help Army take a 2-1 lead.After the break, Chitranjan continued to torment DYSS’ brittle defence and found his way through for the second time in the 38th minute. Mukesh Lakra, who remained dorment for most part of the match, sealed the win for Army with a goal in the 67th minute.