Air India and Western Railways score Runaway wins

Mumbai, September 12: An hat-trick by Lalit Upadhyay, playing his first match in the city and a similar feat by Devendra Walmiki enabled strong contenders Air-India post a 7-0 win over Mumbai Port Trust in the MHA Super League tie played at the Mahindra Stadium today. In the other match of the day, Western Railway who had dropped points against Indian Navy were back on track with a runway 7-1 win over Sports Authority of India. The highlights of their win were the double strikes by defender Amarjeet Singh and forward Chinglain and western now lead the table with ten points from four outings while Air India have nine from three straight wins. SAI and MPT languish at the bottom with a point apiece.

Ait India started in a whirlwind fashion with Lalit Upadhyay scoring the best goal of the season to date. He intelligently took an about turn after overrunning the ball he received from a swift move by Sandeep Michael and Dhanraj Pillay. Lalit just ticked the ball past MPT keeper Sudhir Dixit. Sudhir then stood between Air India and MPT goal for sixteen minutes. The second goal that MPT conceded was a result of bad defending. Dhanraj sprinted a good twenty five yardsonly to be foiled by Sudhir, Lalit lurking by capitalized on the rebound. Air India got the next goal immediately thereafter. Sudhir blocked a Sandeep Michael cross from the right only to see Lalit take advantage and scoop home in a vacant goal. Sudhir’s hard work again went waste as Sameer Dad found the mark following a brilliant save by the youngster to deny Simranjit who had flicked powerfully from the fifth penalty corner.

The winners having taken a decisive lead relaxed and fielded a few substitutes. But Sudhir proved to be a hurdle for the airmen. He denied Simranjeet deflecting a high ball with his stick. MPT had an scape when Lalit Upadhyay struck the post but Air India came back roaring with a zero angle goal by Devendra Walmiki. The slightly built winger scored again twice, scoring from the spot and nailing in a field goal to complete his hat-trick and the rout.

For Western it was their stocky defender Amarjeet who nailed in the first penalty corner with a powerful hit in the second minute of play. A field goal by Sachin in the 22nd minute doubled the lead for Western. A fine indirect exercise from their third penalty corner yielded a goal for Western in the 29th minute of play. Amarjeet scored after Suresh played a good dummy to fool the SAWI defence. Chinglain struck two quick blows to give his team a 5-0 lead at the break. Hardeep Singh (44th min) and K K Bharat (67th min) scored for Western in the second session. SAI got a consolation goal through Rajendra Nangnoor who has been very consistent this season.

Tomorrow: 4.00 p.m. Indian Navy V/s RCF.