Lakra dazzles in Army XI’s exciting win

S. THYAGARAJAN

A threat of a walk-out by Karnataka, protesting a penalty corner that eventually produced the match-winner for Army XI, obliterated the sheen from the heroic fightback staged by it.

The margin of 7-6 with the match-winner from Rajesh Lakra, who scored four goals including a hat-trick, tells the tale of the tie with a veneer of eloquence.

The Army XI team, the defending champion, was desperate to garner full points to stay in line for the semifinal place. But Karnataka, with only a solitary point up to that point was unwilling and determined to make a match of it. And, what more, succeeded enormously. Twice it held the lead after Mudappa’s splendid backhander and Pradhan Somiah’s flick in from a scrimmage found the target.

Defenders disappoint

But the Karnataka defenders were not equal to the task to complement the hard work of the forwards. Conceding soft goals, the defenders let down the team which saw Army coming back through goals by S.V. Sunil and Rajesh Lakra, who pumped in two penalty corers in succession to take Army XI ahead. He converted a stroke shortly after the break to complete his hat-trick.

Trailing 2-4, Karnataka appeared to be in the grip of defeat but the players rose to the occasion. Sparkling in frontline sallies, Mudappa hit in his second goal even as S.V. Sunil struck to keep the lead at 5-3. A penalty corner by Mudappa followed by goals by Nikkin Thimmiah and Nithin Thimmiah brought Karnataka to the forefront at 6-5.

A splendid effort by Armugam gave a fresh lease of life for Army XI at 6-6. The match was hanging in the balance as the teams traded passes and exchanges in a now-or-never mood.

When clock showed one minute from close umpire Anil Kumar awarded a penalty corner. The decision brought of volley of protests from the Karnataka players who swarmed the umpire arguing volubly.

When this remonstrations failed to convince the umpire the Karnataka players began strolling towards the bench suggesting a walk-out. But the senior officials with the team, headed by coach Brient, persuaded to the players to continue.

Body language

The body language of the players was one of clear reluctance as Army XI prepared for the penalty corner execution. Rajesh Lakra smashed the ball to the boards much to the chagrin of the Karnataka players who vent their anger at the umpire. A few even moved menacingly towards him but the table officials and the Tournament Director, Md. Muneer, intervened and prevented anything ugly surfacing and escorted Anil Kumar to safety.

Army XI has seven points after finishing its programme while Karnataka completed its engagements with a solitary point.

The 1-2 reverse suffered by ONGC did not disturb its assured semifinal place. But the verdict enhanced the chances of Indian Railways which needs a draw on Thursday against Namdhari XI after Army XI’s sensational victory in Pool ‘A’.

Railways went into the lead when Chenglein Sana scored but Diwakar Ram slotted the equaliser from a penalty corner. With six minutes remaining from the hooter, Jayakaran netted the winner amidst spontaneous cheers.

BPCL earned its first win in three matches against Southern Railway, which ended the programme with nil points.

The results: Indian Railways 2 (Chenglein Sana, Jayakaran) bt ONGC 1 (Diwakar Ram); Army XI 7 (Rajesh Lakra 4, S.V. Sunil 2, Arumugam) bt Karnataka 6 (Mudappa 3, Pradhan Somiah, Nikkin Thimmiah, Nithin Thimmiah); BPCL 7 (Karamjit Singh 2, Amar Ayamma 2, Jarnail Singh 2, Gurpreet Singh) bt Southern Railway 2 (Mahesh 2).