Priyadarshini `B’ steal a march over NDA

Goodwill, who now meet co-hosts Old Boys Association in the quarter-finals on Friday, converted three attempts from the spot in succession, sealing victory with two strokes to go when Kids’ wasted their third stroke on the fourth attempt. Priyadarshini staved off an NDA resurgence in the second half after taking the lead through centre-forward Umesh Bansode in the 11th minute from a pass by left-winger Vineet Nimal.

The match played in a persistent light drizzle had its fare share of flying sticks, courtesy the weather. The pace, however, did not relent and a spate of infringements brought cards — including a yellow shown by umpire Cariappa that saw Priyadarshini’s inside-right Jayesh Rajput spending time beyond the sidelines for dissent.

NDA failed to display the sort of cohesion that brought them a thumping 4-2 win over St Joseph’s Pride in the first round and it were Priyadarshini who grabbed the initiative in the early stages.

With four players who did duty for Maharashtra in the recent Junior National Championships in Bangalore, Bansode delivered Priyadarshini’s early promise after a quick raid had the NDA left-hand side defense back-pedalling.

Come the second half, NDA’s resolve fetched two quick penalty corners but the equaliser arrived only in the 46th minute. The cadets showed common sense in letting the ball run five yards outside the circle instead of attempting to halt a wet spheroid and the move paid dividends — even as forward Kaushal Rai’s stick took to the air during the set-piece.

Yadav spanked home as the defence had little clue as to what was happening.

But NDA’s joy lasted mere seconds when a penalty corner at the other end found Vinod Kellapan pushing home to put Priyadarshini 2-1 ahead after the ball was allowed to travel five yards out of the circle.

Priyadarshini sealed the issue three minutes from time when left-winger Vineet Nimal accepted a deflection off goalkeeper R Sharma’s pads after centre-half Prasant Pawar hit into the circle.

NDA forced two penalty corners in the dying minutes to cut down the margin — including one on the stroke of full time — but never looked like scoring.

Kids outgunned: Action swayed end-to-end as Kids XI drew first blood mid-way through the first half with a goal by left-winger Kamlesh Gawde who directed home right-winger Sachin Sawant’s cross.

But it was 1-1 within minutes after Jayendera Subramaniam pushed home Raju Hazare’s free-hit.

Goodwill surged ahead after the break when Hazare pushed home on the run after a pretty one-two with Gunashekar Thambi in the 37th minute but Kids XI levelled two minutes later.

Sachin Sawant crossed from the left and his namesake at inside-right, Sailesh, trapped, took his time and pushed past the goalkeeper to bring Kids level.

The teams had plenty more to offer and far from resigning themselves to a shootout went forward in search for the match-winner.

Hazare put Goodwill 3-2 ahead with his second goal — a diving effort after Sikandar Jaffar hit into the circle in the 48th minute.

That could well have been the decider but Goodwill conceded hockey’s version of an own goal although Kids XI’s Sachin Sawant will be credited with the strike, directed to the boards by the unfortunate Kiran Khairale with seven minutes left on the clock.

Khairale grabbed the chance to make amends in the shoot-out and with Thambi and Jaffar bang on target Kids bowed out of the contest after only Mahendra Sawant found the net from the spot.

Wednesday’s matches: 3.00 p.m. Super XI vs Rly Police; 4.30 p.m. Priyadarshini `A’ vs Green Meadows.