Times of India: GOLD CUP: BPCL down IOC, set up CAG clash

Rohan Alvares | TNN | Dec 16, 2015

AI: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.(BPCL) reduced their much-anticipated semifinal duel with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to a largely lopsided affair as a 4-2 win saw them storm into the final of the Dabang Mumbai – 50th All India Bombay Gold Cup at the MHAL Mahindra Stadium here on Tuesday.

This was more than just a rematch of last season’s final, which BPCL had won in a tense shootout. Contributing to its marquee status was the presence of seven India internationals who featured in the bronze medal winning squad at the recent Hockey World League Final. Teammates only over a week ago in Rai pur, Indian Oil’s VR Raghunath, Dharamvir Singh and Kothajit Singh found themselves up against Birender Lakra, Manpreet Singh, SV Sunil and Mohd. Amir Khan whose names stood out from BPCL’s lineup.

Throw in a mix of current India probables and former internationals, including Tushar Khandkar, the present Indian team assistant coach, and everything seemed to point to a rousing tie rather than the anticlimax which the audience ended up having to settle for. It was the holders who struck first as Ravi Pal’s firm scoop from the left was deflected into the goal off an Indian Oil defender in the 8th minute. IOC drew level three minutes later through skipper Deepak Thakur who prodded home from close on his third attempt.

You wouldn’t have hesitated much in handing the edge to IOC in the penalty corner department with the presence of seasoned drag flicker Raghunath and his highly rated younger colleague Gurjinder Singh in their ranks. Yet, even as both were guilty of two misses apiece, it was BPCL’s Gurpreet Singh who enhanced his reputation as a short corner specialist on the day, converting the only two opportunities that came his team’s way.

IOC’s ineffectiveness from the short corner caught both coaches by surprise. “It was a huge disappointment as I expected our penalty corner experts to come good considering their quality,” rued IOC coach Ramesh Parmeshwaran who paid tribute to BPCL’s polished defensive display. Khandkar, the player-coach of BPCL said: “If a side has two good drag flickers, you would expect them to take advantage of that. But I thought we defended well.”

BPCL will meet CAG in Wednesday’s final as the latter held their nerve to beat Western Railway 4-2 in a tiebreaker in the second semifinal after leveling the tie at 2-2 with a last-minute penalty corner.