MUMBAI, OCT 15: Twice in arrears, Mumbai's Air-India fought back gallantly to restore parity in regulation time against fancied Punjab Police. But the Jalandhar outfit, aided by a fine hat-trick by international inside-left Daljit Singh Dhillon, netted first and yet again in the 10th minute of extra-time to squeak into the final of the 38th BHA Gold Cup hockey tournament.Earlier, in the other semi-final at the Mahindra Stadium, Jalandhar's Punjab and Sind Bank continued their impressive run in the competition, when they trounced another Mumbai outfit Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) 4-1.The Air-India-Punjab cops encounter was a thrilling affair. The cops wrested the lead in the second minute and Air-India rallied splendidly to level terms five minutes from half-time. The same pattern of play was witnessed in the second-half, with the cops taking an early lead and the airmen drawing level late in the 62nd minute. But the Mumbai challenge came to a sad end with a golden goal in extra-time.Punjab Police's Daljit fired the first salvo when he beat goalkeeper PU Bopanna with a reverse flick from handshaking distance after Baljit Singh Bhullar had done the spadework.Air-India then had things under control and were able to worry the cops with sustained pressure. They came by two chances during this spell but first, Gagan Ajit Singh hit wide off the target and next, Edward Aranha's deflection off a long hit by team-mate Rajesh Chauhan was palmed away by Punjab Police goalkeeper Roshan Lal.The first Air-India goal came in the 30th minute through Gagan Ajit Singh. He applied the finishing touches from close after controlling a cross by Deepak Thakur.In the second-half, the policemen struck with their second penalty-corner in the 40th minute. Daljit stiffly pushed home the ball following a shallow square pass inside the circle by Sarabjit Singh.Air-India goalkeeper Bopanna then came to his side's rescue on two occasions to keep his side in the hunt. He thwarted tries by Daljit and Harinder.Air-India celebrated these narrow escapes by equalising (2-2) in the 62nd minute. Davinder passed back to striker Thakur from the goalline on the right and the latter made no mistake from close.In the extra-time, Roshan Lal saved his team from danger when he saved a sweep by Aranha off a long hit by Olympian Gavin Ferreira.The match-winner for Punjab Police came in the 10th minute, Daljit scoring his hat-trick with a strong scoop following a penalty corner.EASY FOR PSB: Punjab Sind Bank were two goals to the good after just five minutes of play had elapsed against Bharat Petroleum. First, prolific scorer Baljit Singh Chandi found the mark with a top-of-the-circle drive after trapping a long clearance by team-mate left-back Rajinder Singh. Then Bhupinder Hayer made it 2-0 with a diving effort following Sandeep Singh Ghuman's free-hit.BPCL pulled a goal back in the 20th minute through Olympian Sabu Varkey who scored from a zero angle from the left, following a pass by MK Prakash.PSB made it 3-1 in the 34th minute through Bikaramjit Kaka who scored off a penalty-corner and then hammered the final nail in BPCL's coffin a minute before the close. Harpreet Channi scored off a Hayer pass to complete the rout.
