Central better Western

NOVEMBER 25: Central came up with an inspired second-half display when they edged out Western 3-2 in a lively tussle of the Railways in t...

NOVEMBER 25: Central came up with an inspired second-half display when they edged out Western 3-2 in a lively tussle of the Railways in the Bombay Hockey Association Super hockey league at the Mahindra Stadium, today.

Central played second fiddle in the first-half and were trailing 0-1 at the breather. They replaced their individualistic inside-left Jamsher Khan with Feroze Khan in the second session and the move worked wonders. They not only wiped out the slender deficit, but built up a winning 3-1 lead within 15 minutes. Western pulled a goal back four minutes from the final whistle at a time when Central were home and dry.

The Western first-half goal came in the 31st minute after constant pressure on the Central defence. Right-winger Ingo Singh pushed home between the gap of goalkeeper Arun Gurung and the near post, after inside-right Chander Pal Singh had done the spadework.

Ingo had another try soon after resumption. But this time, goalkeeper Gurung confidently padded away the ball after Ingo wasput through by centre-forward Mukhtiar Singh with a shallow diagonal.

Central then wrested the attacking reins and forced five penalty-corners within five minutes. Central left-back Haseeb Uddin came up trumps with the fourth and fifth awards.

Haseeb8217;s first attempt was a powerful effort and gave Western goalkeeper Sanjay Ratni no chance in the 41st minute. His second strike travelled to the boards after grazing goalkeeper Ratni8217;s pads.

The two successful strikes fired up Central and their forwards, backed by the mid-fielders, tormented their opponents with swift build-ups. They maintained the pressure and their efforts bore fruit when the virtually put the issue beyond doubt through an opportunistic goal by centre-half Amit Sain in the 59th minute.

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Western reduced the margin in the 66th minute following their lone penalty-corner in the second session. Centre-forward Mukhtiar Singh, who was lurking deep in the circle, pushed home from close after goalkeeper Gurung had stopped a shot by left-halfSantosh Singh.