Karnataka clinch crown

Hosts pip TN on goal difference to qualify for Natls

Karnataka were crowned South Zone champions and qualified for the National Hockey Championship after a fighting 2-2 draw against Tamil Nadu in their last South Zone Championship match at the KSHA stadium on Friday. 

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu ended on 13 points from five matches after the stalemate, but the hosts qualified for the Nationals on account of better goal difference of 41 against the visitors’ 18.

Darshan DS struck for Karnataka in the ninth minute while Hari Prasad GM sounded the board in the 30th minute. Adam Sinclair (eighth, 49th) slammed both the goals for Tamil Nadu.

For the first time in the tournament, the spectators got to witness an evenly matched encounter between two sides. Sinclair first found the target when he slotted home after latching onto a Iyappan pass. But Karnataka hit back through a penalty corner the very next minute, Darshan converting the chance without much ado.

With scores level, both teams looked to attack. Karnataka’s in-form player Mohammad Naeemuddin was not his usual self missing the chances that came his way. 

However, in the 30th minute, an opportunistic Hari Prasad tapped the ball in after a pass from Bijju as Karnataka nudged ahead. Karnataka went into the break leading 2-1. 

Second-half was a story of missed opportunities for both the teams. Tamil Nadu got close to scoring through Mudappa and Iyyappa in the 48th minute but struggled to finish.

Karnataka custodian Jagdeep Dayal, who won the best player of the tournament award, was sensational under the bar foiling three certain goalscoring attempts.  In the 49th minute, Sinclair sounded the board off a Arulstalin pass to open up TN’s chances. But Karnataka held firm in the dying minutes to emerge champions.

Coach Alexander was elated with the team’s performance. “We were under pressure but came through, it’s a great feeling. Jagdeep was superb under the bar and Hari Prasad controlled the game well. This is the fourth time we have become South Zone champions under me, so it feels good,’’ he added.

Results: Puducherry: 4 (Delhi Ganesh 5th, 50th, Harikrishnan M 37th, 39th) bt Kerala: 0; Hyderabad: 4 (Mohd Azhar Ullah Khan 27th, 41st, Nagaraj M 46th, Mohd Abdul Aleem 51st) bt Andhra: 0; Karnataka: 2 (Darshan DS 9th, Hari Prasad GM 30th) bt Tamil Nadu: 2 (Adam Sinclair 8th, 49th).