Odisha Naval Tata held by Sonipat academy in Nehru Hockey

New Delhi: Hockey was at its best when the Dutch-trained Odisha Naval Tata team was held to a 3-3 draw by Govt Hockey Academy, Sonipat on the penultimate day of the Phase III league of Kanwarji Construction 53rd Nehru Boys (Under-17) hockey tournament at Shivaji Stadium on Wednesday.

The fate of Sonipat boys would be decided after their encounter with Hafiz Siddiqui National Inter-College, Jhansi, on Thursday. The match may impact Odisha Naval Tata's entry in last four.

Earlier, DG NCC Lucknow and Naval Tata, Jamshedpur continued their winning run defeating Maj Dhyan Chand Sports College College, Saifai 7-2 and Punjab State Institute of Sports, Mohali 6-2 respectively.

The Tata Odisha-Sonipat encounter provided all the thrill. Alok Kujur put Odisha up early but the lead was neutralised by Man-of-the-Match Jatin for Haryana in the second quarter.

Odisha went up again twice through Manesh Naik's brace only to be equalised by Nikhil and Anubhav.

Watching Ashish Tani Purti play for steelboys from Tatanagar over last two years has always been an exhilarating experience. In any match he is practically there everywhere, the wings, half line and defence.

Converting three of the five penalty corners he took on Wednesday for his first three goals today put him in different league. His hattrick was worth a watch, though his effort was punctuated by an equally good goal from Mohali's Gurkaran Singh, making the score 1-1 in the 11th minute was also a treat to watch.

Before Premchand Soy, Ganga Topno and Tintus Hembrom rounded off the Tatanagar tally in the last quarter, Anwarbir had once made the score look very close 2-3 in third quarter for Punjab scoring a field goal from a very acute angle.

Theirs' was an abject surrender in the closing quarter.

Two goals each by Raghavendra and Shahrukh Ali underlined DG NCC Blue's emphatic 7-2 win over Maj. Dhyan Chand Sports College, Saifai, Etawah. So complete was their dominance that Lucknow team was up 2-0 in first five minutes through Mohd Atif Raynee and Raghavendra.

A penalty stroke in the second quarter that Ramit Pal easily converted showed signs of Sports College's recovery but within minutes Rahul Yadav made the score 3-1 in favour of NCC colts.

After lying low in the third, the Lucknow team pumped in four goal in the last session through Raghavendra,  Shahrukh Ali (2), and Ashish Pandey with one reply from Nitish Yadav for Saifai.

NCC Red too continued their winning streak blanking Govt Upgraded School, Palol, Khunti 4-0. They led 1-0 at the end of first quarter with a Lelsen Minz goal through penalty corner.

Beginning of second quarter brought memories of great Indian inside forward Mohammed Shahid back when his name sake weaved his way through a maze of defenders to score NCC Red's second spectacular goal for 2-0 lead. 

Captain Rohit Ekka with his brace completed the NCC tally. Arun Lakra, who defended well and fed his team with made-to-measure passes, was adjudged the Man of the Match.

NCC Red would face Round Glass Hockey Academy, Punjab on Thursday to reserve a place in the last four.

NCC Blue, with a match to go against Ramakrishna School are already assured, well almost, of a semi-final berth.

Tags : Nehru Hockey, Naval Tata, Shivaji Stadium, NCC Lucknow, Hafiz Siddiqui