JOIN USArmy Red overwhelmed Indian Air Force (IAF) 3-1 in their KSHA Ozone Group National League hockey championship at the KSHA stadium on Friday.
Army Red’s goals came through Sunil Ekka (13th), Rajesh Kumar (25th) and Armugam S (53rd) while Alam S (14th) netted the consolation goal for IAF. But for an alert IAF custodian Manish Kumar, who saved shots from Chittaranjan Singh and Armugam, Army Red could have easily shot into the lead.
However, the Army Red got the deserved lead in the 13th minute when Sunil Ekka slotted home a rebound off Manish from a penalty corner. The Army Red’s joy was shortlived as a minute later, the Airmen found the equaliser in the 14th minute after a counter-attack which ended in Alam slotting home a pass from Harwant Singh. Soon after the IAF equaliser, teams went on to an attacking mode. Lovepreet Singh and Sanwar Ali received golden opportunities to score but the Airmen duo failed to convert them. Army Red took 2-1 lead with an alert Rajesh Kumar sounding the board in the 25th minute off a short corner. IAF had a couple of chances to come back on level terms but Lovepreet and Sanwar was thwarted by Army Red custodian Najmudeen. Army Red went into the half-time with 2-1 advantage.
Eighteen minutes into the second half, Army Red took a 3-1 cushion through drag-flicker Armugam, who converted the penalty corner.
Result: Army Red: 3 (Sunil Ekka 13th, Rajesh Kumar 25th, Armugam S 53rd) bt IAF: 1 (Alam S 14th).