Defending champion IOCL romps to a 4-2 win over Indian Navy
IOCL went ahead with a goal through a penalty corner conversion by Arshdeep Singh
VR Raghunath of IOCL Celebrates scoring a goal
CHENNAI: The Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) team defeated Indian Navy 4-2 in a Pool ‘A’ match of the 94th All-India Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament in Chennai on Saturday.
IOCL went ahead with a goal through a penalty corner conversion by Arshdeep Singh. The Navy team bounced back to level at 1-1 when Sushil Dhanwar scored from a penalty corner six minutes later. V R Raghunath blasted home from a penalty corner in the very next minute to put IOC 2-1 ahead.
In the second quarter, the Navy equalised through K Selvaraj, who scored from a field goal. With scores tied at 2-2 at half-time, Affan Yousuf scored from a penalty corner in the 40th minute and Roshan Minz consolidated with a field goal in the 55th as IOCL secured a 4-2 victory.
In another Pool A match, Hockey Karnataka rallied after conceding an early goal to beat Central Secretariat 2-1. Mohd Shariq scored for Central Secretariat in the third minute with a penalty corner conversion.
The Karnataka team equalised in the 21st minute when Thrishul Ganapathi scored from a penalty corner. Pranam Gowda sealed the win, finding the net from a penalty corner in the 57th minute.
In a Pool B match, Punjab National Bank beat Indian Army 2-1. Gursimran Singh opened the scoring for PNB in the 37th minute after a goalless first half, from a PC. Ten minutes later, Army equalised when Rajant scored. Sachin found the winner for PNB in the 58th minute with a field goal.