
CHANDIGARH, July 28: Haryana A8217; beat Punjab B8217; via sudden-death 8-7 in the league match of the second North Zone Independence Gold Cup hockey tournament at Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here today. The teams were 1-1 each during the stipulated period.
The other two league matches of the day went on expected lines. Pulkit8217;s double hat-trick enabled Himchal Pradesh to B8217; score a 19-0 victory over a hapless Chandigarh A8217;.
In another match Punjab A8217; defeated Haryana B8217; 11-0.
The encounter was the most exciting and closely fought so far in the meet. The teams fought tooth and nail in the regulation period. Both the teams had an equal share of missed chances. Haryana A8217; dominated the first session while Punjab B8217; had ball possession in the second half. However, the teams could not net the match-winner.
Even the tie-breaker failed to break the deadlock between the teams. In the sudden death, the scores were identical after two strokes. But, in the third one, Sandeep scored for Haryana while Punjab8217;s Gurbaj Singh8217;s weak and straight push was easily saved by Maninder Singh. Haryana A thus, emerged winners.
Earlier in the regulation time Haryana earned as many as nine penalty corners but failed to convert. However, four minutes from the hooter Damandeep8217;s superb hit gave Haryana 1-0 lead.
The lead was short lived as three minutes later Parveen Kumar converted for Punjab to level the score 1-1.
In the match between Himachal B8217; and Chandigarh A8217;, had the former attackers not slackened their pace in the second session the margin of victory would have been more. HP earned eight penalty corners and converted the first and third.
With today8217;s defeat Chandigarh A8217; are virtually out of the meet. Chandigarh A8217; will face Punjab A8217; in their last league encounter.
Pulkit scored 11 goals. Vijay 2, Chetan 2, Nitin 2 and Pawan 1 were the other scorers for the team.
In another one-sided affair Punjab A8217; defeated Haryana B8217; 11-0.
Manbir Singh struck six goals not hat-trick while Harbinder Singh got two and Joga Singh scored one.