Saturday, January 23, 2010: Hosts Mumbai recorded their second successive win over Karnataka in their six match U 21 series for the Balbir Singh Grewal – M.P.Ganesh Trophy played at the Mahindra Stadium, Churchgate today. Mumbai defeated the visitors from the south by a 3-1 margin after leading by two goals at the break. There was marked improvement from Karnataka in comparison to the display yesterday.

They matched their rivals in all departments, except scoring which finally proved to be their undoing. They earned four penalty corners, took them with good variations but were unable to strike the target on three occasion’s whey they finally did Mumbai Keeper Sudhir Dixit stood in their way.

Mumbai had their chances early on but Karnataka keeper Jgdeep managed to put his left glove up and foil Sandeep Singh. His stiff drag flick from the first penalty corner in the 7th minute. The city boys finally drew first blood through man of the match Victo Singh whose lethal reverse hit flew past a stunned Jagdeep close to his right post. Gyanendra Singh, the short statured Manipuri had done the spadework by releasing the ball after beating a defender.

The goal forced Karnataka to wake up and they came up with a flurry of attacks towards the end of the first session. Their right winger Poonacha came up with a splendid move from the left and squared to Biju only to see Sudhir Dixit stretch a timely left foot.

Next, Sudhir dived headlong to foil the designs of Nitin Thimmaiah who sent a rasping cross from the right for Muddappa. Mumbai retaliated immediately through Victo but his rasping top of the circle drive was foiled by Jagdeep. That proved to be a temporary reprieve as centre forward Abung made the most of Niyaz Rahim’s cross. The reverse hit proved lethal once again with Jagdeep left clueless.

Karnataka returned with new ideas and put Mumbai under pressure only to get a solid response from Sudhir who foiled Poonacha and Rahim who had taken back to back tries. Karnataka then had to endure the agony of Muddappa’s slap shot hit the near post. Before that disappointment could be overcome Chittiappa found Sudhir in his way following their third penalty corner. Mumbai made the issue safe with Devendra Walmiki scoring neatly with a stiff drive from the left of the circle.

Karnataka got their consolation goal as Sudhir allowed Poonacha’s shot to trickle through his pads. Victo Singh ( Mumbai ) and Nitin Thimmaiah ( Karnataka ) were presented Man of the Match awards by former Olympian Rahul Singh. The third and final match of the Mumbai leg will be played on Monday, January 25.

Vijay Thapa superb brace enable F United to edge out star studded Air India ‘B’ by 3-2 margin in the keenly contested MHA Senior Division League match played at the MHA Mahindra Stadium, Churchgate. F United team comprising of youngsters while Air India ‘B’ comprising former Olympians & Internationals like of Anil Aldrin, Viren Rasquinha, Darryl D’Souza, Gavin Ferreira & Internationals like Edgar Mascarenhas Sr & Jr, Cornelius D’Costa totally a star filled side. F United undeterred started on a bright note their persistent attacks on the airmen’s citadel bore fruits in one such attack F United nimble fooled striker Nitin Kumar fired a brilliant goal from an acute angle stunning their much reputed rivals the airmen’s in the 28th minutes .

After resumption, the stunned airmen came back into the game Olympian Gavin Ferreira struck twice one through indirect p.c conversion in the 39th minutes ( 1-1) and second a superb field attempt ( 50th minutes ) 2-1. However the youthful F united thereafter swing up their raids their right winger Vijay Thapa came up with a inspired performance scoring two goals back to back in his sides he fired both goals through indirect penalty corner conversion in the 63rd and 65th minutes.

Children’s Academy ( Malad ) qualified for the finals for boys under 16 years in the MSSA Inter School Knock-out hockey tournament played at MHA Mahindra Stadium today.

Childrens Academy meet counterparts Our Lady of Dolours H.S ( Marine Lines ) for the summit clash. This will second time in a row for Childrens Academy both the occasions they have cost to Our Lady of Dolours H.S both school being coached by Mr.M.J.Patel ( Bawa ). In the Semi finals they beat Don Bosco H.S ( Matunga ) via tie breaker ( 4-3 ) after being held at 1-1 score during regulation time.

Other results of the day:

Don Bosco H.S ( Matunga ) beat HVB Academy ( marine lines ) by 3-0.

St.Annes H.S (Malad ) beat S.Andrew’s H.S ( Bandra ) by 2-0

St.Stanislaus H.S beat Swami Vivekananda by 3-0

St.Francis D’Assisi beat St.Alloysius H.S ( Bandra by 4-0