<p>Mumbai produced an impressive second-half display to blank Uttar Pradesh 3-0 to reach the top of the standings in the 64th IHF National hockey championship for the Rangaswamy Cup at the KSHA stadium on Sunday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The defending champions replace hosts Karnataka as the leaders with seven points from four matches while UP remain on four points from three matches. <br /><br />Laxman Rao (43rd) and Jayanta Meitei (64th) were the scorers for an improving Mumbai outfit while an own goal (61st) added to their tally as well. <br /><br />The second half contained all the action as Rao, who was struggling a bit on the flanks, eventually found the much needed opening goal for the holders with a solo effort. The right-half weaved his way through a clutch of defenders to beat UP custodian Ashish Mishra in the 43rd minute. <br /><br />Roshan Keisham got very close to getting his name on the goalscorers list but the shot was blocked away by an alert Imran Khan of UP in the 46th minute. <br /><br />An own goal was the last thing UP had in their mind but that is exactly what transpired in the 61st minute. Mumbai’s Sankalp Raghav fired a shout from 25 yards out that got a deflection off Manipur custodian K Urun for their second goal. <br /><br />In the 62nd minute, UP had a great opportunity to reduce the deficit an stay competitve in the match but the Ranjeet Singh-coached side failed to convert a penalty corner that came their way. <br /><br />Mumbai custodian Sudhir Dixit must be credited for not conceding a single goal just like on this occasion, taking body blows to prevent damage to his side. Jayanta Meitei then sealed the game in Mumbai’s favour with a well-taken drag flick off a penalty corner taken by Victo Singh in the 64th minute. <br /><br />Results: Punjab: 9 (Simranjit Singh 13th, 17th, 58th, 64th, Ranjit Singh 43rd, 49th, 62nd, Sanjeev Kumar 22nd, Satwinder Singh 37th) bt Manipur: 3 (N Bhaskar 26th, 54th, P Priyokumar 36th); Mumbai: 3 (Laxman Rao 43rd, own goal 61st, Jayanta Meitei 64th) bt Uttar Pradesh: 0. <br /><br />Monday’s match: Karnataka vs Jharkhand (4.30 pm).</p>
<p>Mumbai produced an impressive second-half display to blank Uttar Pradesh 3-0 to reach the top of the standings in the 64th IHF National hockey championship for the Rangaswamy Cup at the KSHA stadium on Sunday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The defending champions replace hosts Karnataka as the leaders with seven points from four matches while UP remain on four points from three matches. <br /><br />Laxman Rao (43rd) and Jayanta Meitei (64th) were the scorers for an improving Mumbai outfit while an own goal (61st) added to their tally as well. <br /><br />The second half contained all the action as Rao, who was struggling a bit on the flanks, eventually found the much needed opening goal for the holders with a solo effort. The right-half weaved his way through a clutch of defenders to beat UP custodian Ashish Mishra in the 43rd minute. <br /><br />Roshan Keisham got very close to getting his name on the goalscorers list but the shot was blocked away by an alert Imran Khan of UP in the 46th minute. <br /><br />An own goal was the last thing UP had in their mind but that is exactly what transpired in the 61st minute. Mumbai’s Sankalp Raghav fired a shout from 25 yards out that got a deflection off Manipur custodian K Urun for their second goal. <br /><br />In the 62nd minute, UP had a great opportunity to reduce the deficit an stay competitve in the match but the Ranjeet Singh-coached side failed to convert a penalty corner that came their way. <br /><br />Mumbai custodian Sudhir Dixit must be credited for not conceding a single goal just like on this occasion, taking body blows to prevent damage to his side. Jayanta Meitei then sealed the game in Mumbai’s favour with a well-taken drag flick off a penalty corner taken by Victo Singh in the 64th minute. <br /><br />Results: Punjab: 9 (Simranjit Singh 13th, 17th, 58th, 64th, Ranjit Singh 43rd, 49th, 62nd, Sanjeev Kumar 22nd, Satwinder Singh 37th) bt Manipur: 3 (N Bhaskar 26th, 54th, P Priyokumar 36th); Mumbai: 3 (Laxman Rao 43rd, own goal 61st, Jayanta Meitei 64th) bt Uttar Pradesh: 0. <br /><br />Monday’s match: Karnataka vs Jharkhand (4.30 pm).</p>
