Mumbai : Thrice in arrears, a determined Air India fought back and with a bit of good fortune managed to snatch an exciting 3-3 draw with ONGC (Oil & Natural Gas Corporation) in a Pool-B match of the MHAL Super Division League 2015.
Air India with this point, now have 13 points from 5 wins and a draw and are through to the final from this pool. ONGC finished with 13 points but finished second as they have an inferior goal-difference.
Air India suffered an early setback when ONGC took the lead through Harsahib S. Shammi, who successfully converted their first penalty corner in the 15th minute. However, ONGC’s joy was short-lived as four minutes later Pawan Kumar scored the equaliser.
But nine minutes later, ONGC regained the lead with Amit M finding the target from a field effort to give his team a slender 2-1 half-time lead. The airmen for the second time drew level when Aiyappa cashed in on a defensive lapse to tap home in the 49th minute before ONGC for the third time in the match went in front through Diwakar Ram’s powerful drag flick from the their third penalty corner of the match in the 53rd minute. Air India not prepared to give up without putting up a fight managed to restore parity when another error by the rival defence saw Pawan Kumar score in the 56th minute.
Earlier in an inconsequential Pool-B encounter, Central Secretariat overpowered SAI (Sports Authority of India) by a thumping 7-2 margin. For Secretariat, Pradhan Somanna scored a hat-trick; Gunasekar struck a brace while S.S. Bundela and Abhishek Singh chipped in with one apiece. SAI skipper Yograj Singh scored both the goals for the team.
In the first match of the day, Central Railway powered by Yuvraj Walmiki’s four goals charged to a 8-4 win against Abhi Foundation in a Pool-A match.
