The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Mumbai overcomes Karnataka

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Mumbai overcomes Karnataka

Hockey Correspondent

Osaf-ur-Rehman scores thrice for Mumbai
BPCL and Air India play out a goalless draw

CHENNAI: Mumbai XI overcame Karnataka XI 5-4 in a lively Pool A contest in the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Friday.

In sharp contrast, the second tie between defending champion BPCL and Air India ended goal-less.

If the verdict against the Karnataka outfit raised a few eyebrows it was understandable in the context of the technical excellence and individual thrust the team displayed. The patterns it threaded and the consistency it exhibited floundered in the light of the poor showing by the defence.

When Somanna slammed a splendid goal within five minutes of the push-off, after Nilesh had dodged a host of defenders, it looked as it would be a walk in the park for Karnataka.

Inexplicably, the trend altered alarmingly for Karnataka. Within a gap of three minutes, Mumbai slotted two — Osaf-ur-Rehman finding the target and Kulbhushan pumping in a penalty corner.

Encouraged by the turn of events, the Mumbai team gained ascendancy, and kept up the pressure on the fumbling Karnataka defence.

Another neat effort by Kulbushan put Mumbai ahead despite the goal by Somanna which only indicated that Karnataka had the gumption and resources to fight back. Before half time, another goal by Osaf gave Mumbai a 4-2 lead.

Michael’s good show

What brought some life and rhythm into the Karnataka team after the break was the endeavour of former international Sandeep Michael and the support he obtained from Somanna.

There were signs of Karnataka matching the rival, or even overhauling it. Notwithstanding a flunked sitter by Rafiq, Karnataka came back into the match when Michael’s stunning backhander flummoxed goal-keeper Gurpreet Singh.

At 3-4, it was anybody’s game, but Nitin Thimmiah failed with an easy chance even as Osaf scored capitalising on the inept defence.

Fighting hard, Karnataka had everything rolling for it and a second goal by Michael raised visions of a draw. But that was not to be.

The results: Mumbai XI 5 (Osaf-ur-Rehman 3, Kulbushan 2) bt Karnataka 4 (Somanna 2, Sandeep Michael 2) HT 4-2; Air India 0 drew with BPCL 0.

Saturday’s matches: Orissa XI v Armyt XI (2-15 p.m.); Indian Railways v IOB (4 p.m.); BPCL v Namdhari XI (5-45 p.m.).

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