Persistent rain precluded precision passing but that did not prevent the India Juniors sparkle in spells under grey clouds against the formidable IOC in the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament on Tuesday.
But the variations and the vibrancy displayed by the A.K. Bansal-trained squad were insufficient threats to the heavy and seasoned IOC that won 3-0 and confirmed a place in the semifinals from Pool B.
Interestingly, the Juniors still enjoys a faint chance of making it provided an outright victory come their way on Thursday against Punjab National Bank, which gained full points over Southern Railway in the earlier match. The Juniors has four points against the six by PNB.
First blow
Deepak Thakur delivered the first blow even as the match was less than 30 seconds with a classic swerve and finish. Though stunned by the start, the Indian juniors lost no time in getting their act together.
With Lalitha Upadyaya as play maker, the Junior team brought a good measure of stress on the rival defenders. Conspicuous in the frontline was Yusuf Affan. His speed and stick work are a spectacle. If only he had matched his display with neat finish, there could have been a different script. It is only a matter of time before he gets a national cap in the senior squad.
Another player who distinguished for the Juniors was goal-keeper Navin Kumar. Some of his saves, especially in penalty corners from Raghunath were smart. The juniors had three penalty corners against four by IOC but the efforts by Chandan Singh and Amit Rohidas were futile against the veteran goal keeper Devesh Chauhan.
Experience proved a decisive factor for IOC. The former champion played a waiting game until late in the second half when a deflection by Hamza Mujtaba produced the second goal. Then Roshan Minz's effort widened the leeway in the final minute.
Third defeat
The local challenge, represented by Southern Railway, faded into insignificance, as the team slid down to its third successive defeat in as many encounters.
It is a pity that the team has not scored a single goal. On Tuesday, it succumbed to the sustained pressure exerted by Punjab National Bank.
The pace of the match was slow, given the slippery underfoot conditions owing to rain.
But the PNB squad. served well by Jatinder Saroha and Yudvir. progressively got the measure of the rival defenders, including the athletic Suresh at the goal.
True, the Railway team held on till late in the first half but with a minute go for the half-time, it conceded the goal when Jalwinder Singh flicked in a cross from Bruno Lugan.
Early on in the second half, PNB widened the lead. Yudvir served a nice pass to Bruno Lugan to do the rest and close on time a cross by Jatinder Saroha enabled Nitin Kumar to put the issue beyond doubt.
PNB has six points from three matches in Pool B and faces Indian Juniors in its last encounter.
The results: PNB 3 (Jalwinder Singh, Bruno Lugan, Nitin Kumar) bt Southern Railway 0; IOC 3 (Deepak Thakur, Hamza Mujtaba, Roshan Minz) bt India Juniors 0
Wednesday's matches: ONGC v Railways (2.15 p.m.); Army v Karnataka (4 p.m.); BPCL v Soutnern Railway (5.45 p.m.)
