GURU TEGH BAHADUR GOLD CUP

It’s Air India vs Indian Oil in final

Mumbai: It’ll be Air India vs Indian Oil in the final of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial Gold Cup on Sunday. In Saturday’s semifinals, Indian Oil hit back after getting stunned by an early goal to down Punjab National Bank 3-1, while Air India had
a smooth 5-0 takeoff against Indian Navy.

Both matches failed to live up to expectations. While the first match, despite it being a tussle between two fancied teams, never rose to exciting heights, the second was virtually one-sided.

After the young Punjab side stunned Indian Oil with a fifth-minute strike, the livewire Daman Deep Singh taking advantage of a defensive lapse to cut loose from the midfield and bang home, the match suddenly became alive. Indian Oil were all over the Punjab half, banging in three goals in quick succession to seal their opponents’ fate.

All three were field goals — Bharat Chikkara equalising in the 15th minute with a fine solo run from the left, captain Deepak Thakur scoring the second goal 10 minutes later and Rosan Minz banging home the third a minute later.

All four goals came in the first half. The second session was dull and drab affair with the Oilmen looking more content in holding on to their lead.

The Air India-Indian Navy game, on the other hand, was almost a one-way traffic. Indian Navy, who had stunned former champions Punjab Police in the quarterfinals, were no match for the experienced AI line-up. They were fast, but what they won in pace, they lost in finishing. Just one goal was scored in the first half, with AI playing a waiting game.

The proceedings livened up once the mercurial Dhanraj Pillay entered the stage in the second session. Four goals in 10 minutes, with Pillay giving ample display of his class with a gem of a goal in the 62nd minute, and it was all over for the Navymen.

“We took it a bit easy today. The big day is tomorrow. Indian Oil are a formidable side. We have to be at our best to beat them,’’ said Air India captain Dilip Tirkey.

Navy supporter evicted

An Indian Navy supporter had to be evicted from the ground when he tried to charge at the umpire after a controversial decision. Navy players were protesting a free-hit decision awarded by umpire Sanjay Borade, and things turned ugly when Air India players took the hit and scored, despite the players still protesting against the decision. In fact the goal was first awarded, but when Navy players threatened to walk off, it was revoked and AI were given a penalty corner in its place. In between, the Navy ‘official’ suddenly ran towards the umpire, but was overpowered and forced out of the ground. While Navy team management claimed he was just a supporter and not an official, the moot question is how then he got permission to enter the enclosure?