JOIN USArmy XI Red began their campaign in the Bengaluru Super Hockey League with a thumping 6-2 win over Sports Authority of India (SAI), South in their Pool B tie at the Hockey Stadium here on Thursday.
The game started on an even keel with both sides having a go at each other from the opening hooter. Stalin Abilash opened the scoring for SAI in the fourth minute but the Army men found the equaliser eight minutes later through Siraju AP, who made no mistake in finding the roof of the net from a penalty corner.
SAI reclaimed their lead in the 13th minute when DA Machaiah’s powerful shot from a penalty corner got past Army’s goalkeeper Arpit Chowdary, who had made a superb back-to-back save to deny Muthanna MR a minute earlier. However, the advantage didn’t last long as Anselm Hemron restored parity for the military side in the 33rd minute. Two minutes later, Sanjib Dung Dung converted a penalty stroke to put the Army men in front.
B B Machaiah then fired home a penalty corner in the 41st minute as the C B Devadas-coached-side further extended the gap.
Dung Dung then completed his brace in the 59th minute while Siraju also got his second when he expertly slammed the ball past the helpless SAI custodian Sanjay B in the 70th minute.
Results: Pool B: Army XI Red: 6 (Siraju AP 12th, 70th, Anselm Hemron 33rd, Sanjib Dung Dung 35th, 59th, BB Machaiah 41st) bt Sports Authority of India: 2 (Stalin Abilash 4th, Machaiah DA 13th).