Indian Oil snatched an equaliser three minutes from the hooter and then went on to upstage Punjab National Bank 5-4 via tie-breaker in an eventful final of the 119th all-India Beighton Cup hockey at the SAI Eastern Centre ground here on Thursday.
The Mumbai-based Indian Oil fired up an early lead with Harman Singh striking a nice field goal. Making its second final entry in three years, PNB stung back 10 minutes later through Hardeep Singh who fetched the equaliser with a fine effort.
Damandeep Singh put the bank-men in the lead with a spectacular effort in the 33rd minute. PNB nurtured the lead, firming up its defence in the second-half. Gagandeep Singh, who was named ‘player-of-the-tournament’, essayed a sharp cross on the PNB goalmouth, which Roshan Minz flicked home past Shamsher Singh, the PNB goalkeeper, who had a nice match otherwise (2-2).
The resultant tie-breaker saw the experience of former Indian goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan coming good for Indian Oil.
Chauhan saved three attempts of PNB players — that of Arjun Antil, Hardeep Singh and Yudhvir Singh — to clear the coast for Indian Oil.
Damandeep Singh and Mathias Minz could find the target for PNB while Gagandeep Singh, Sumeet Singh and captain Dipak Thakur scored for Indian Oil to clinch the crown.
The result: Final: Indian Oil 2 (Harman Singh 7, Roshan Minz 67) drew with Punjab National Bank 2 (Hardeep Singh 17, Damandeep Singh 33). India Oil won 5-4 via tie-breaker.
