Late goal gives Bharat Petroleum victory

Fighting to qualify along with Indian Airlines, Bharat Petroleum huffed and puffed before edging out Tamil Nadu Colts 5-4, thanks to a goal on the hooter by international Sabu Varkey, to take a place in quarter-finals from Group C in the 79th MCC Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament in Madras on Monday.

In an earlier match, strong contenders Punjab Sind Bank made it to the quarter-finals from Group A with a 2-0 win over Bengal XI.

Bharat Petroleum, boasting of internationals Sabu Varkey, Ravi Naicker, Bipin Fernandez, S S Gill and Anurag Raghuvanshi, found themselves shaken as Tamil Nadu Colts snatched the lead against the run of play through a C Murugavel a penalty-corner.

The colts attacked relentlessly with captain Sarvana Kumar and Murugavel tormenting the rival defence. Their goalkeeper Raja Rajan also brough off two splendid saves off stiff shots from Amar Aiyanna and Bipin Fernandez.

BP team levelled in the 22nd minute, when Raghuvanshi converted their fifth penalty-corner, and snatched the lead off a long corner through Sukhwinder Singh Gill a minute later.

The TN colts restored parity through Saravana Kumar (2-2), who banged the ball home from a Suresh long corner shot as BP goalkeeper Bopanna was caught napping.

Into the second session, both BP, who let go another penalty-corner and the TN colts carved out chances. But despite enjoying the edge, it was the BP goal that fell again. A Suresh cross from the right flank beat the BP defence and Saravana Kumar flicked home in the 47th minute.

With 15 minutes to go, Tamil Nadu colts surged to a 4-2 lead as Palanivel Rajan converted a penlty-stroke which was awarded when Youvan was brought down by BP keeper Bopanna.

However, BP came back strongly and reduced the margin (3-4) when K T Mohan converted a penalty-corner and then equalised (4-4) in the 63rd minute through Amar Aiyanna who scored off a pass from Bipin Fernandez.

Almost at the call of time, Sabu Varkey clinched thr issue.

BP, who scored their second straight victory from the group, play Indian Airlines in the last legue match on Tuesday to decide the second qualifier from this group.

Captain Parminder Singh put Punjab and Singh Bank ahead in the second minute itself deflecting the ball home as it came off a defender.

Dominating the exchanges, the Punjab team struck again in the 30th minute when Baljit Singh Chandi scored from the left flank after being fed by Parminder.