Erring umpire hands IOC semi-final spot at Shastri hockey

The Indian Oil and Army XI went into their last league match, both requiring a win to enter the semifinal of the Lal Bahadur Shastri hockey tournament on Thursday. Army XI were at an advantage, since a draw was enough to see them through—thanks to superior goal difference.

Unfortunately, a game that saw action through the 70 minutes with the momentum swinging either way was overshadowed by some blatantly poor umpiring that saw Army XI—one of the most disciplined teams on the domestic circuit—walk out in protest and IOC managing to edge past 4-3.

With both teams desperate for a win, the match started on an aggressive note. Army XI initiated the penetration but their repeated attempts failed inside the IOC circle due to their own lapses and inexperience rather than the IOC defending. Former India star Ignace Tirkey, while playing as a forward failed to make an impact and was a shadow of himself due to a swollen ankle injury that is yet to heal completely.

If Ignace wasn’t the man who showed promising hockey, others players like Arumugam, Jurum Kujur and Eliazer Lakra made up for him. With some impressive passing and innovative playmaking, Army XI penetrated at will but hardly did they make full use of their chances.

Having said that, IOC reversed the script within four minutes and fired two goals in the 14th and 17th minute through penalty corners by VR Raghunath. Just after a short span of three minutes, Ignace finally slotted the ball in to reduce the margin for Army XI, but not before Army made their displeasure clear at being denied at least two penalty corners they rightly deserved.

Post break, Arumugam levelled scores in the 40th minute, and the Armymen could have scored at least two, had they not squandered chances.

In the 49th minute, a free hit from outside the circle deflected off Army captain CS Xalxo’s stick and went in that brought referee Bhupinder Singh decision into play. Despite the ball deflecting from the Army XI stick, he awarded the goal to captain Deepak Thakur, who was ineffective until then.

The decision sparked off the Army XI to walk-out, leaving the field empty for about 10 minutes before the organisers cajoled them back onto the field. Any other team could have been dispirited but Army retaliated even more strongly to equalise through Poovanna in the 62nd minute. Before they could strategise any further, Raghunath PC sealed the proceedings immediately after two minutes.

In the other league game, Air India beat ONGC 4-3 to qualify for the last four, but it didn’t affect ONGC, who had already booked a berth.

Len Aiyappa scored twice for Air India, through penalty corners, to put his team ahead before ONGC stuck back with Gurvinder Singh Chandi scoring a brace to level scores. Yuvraj Walmiki and Birender Lakra scored one each for Air India while experienced Vivek Gupta could only reduce the margin for ONGC.

In Friday’s semi-finals, Air India take on BPCL while IOC meet ONGC.