Star-studded Indian Airlines, Delhi, pipped Mumbai outfit Indian Oil 4-2, via the tie-breaker, in a lacklustre final to win the 41st Bombay Gold Cup hockey tournament, at the Mahindra stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday.
The match, labelled as "youth vs experience", failed to live upto expectations as the youthful Indian Oil team did not have the speed and skills to trouble the experienced airmen. Ultimately, the tie-breaker decided the fate of the match.
In fact, the first 25 minutes of the match were confined to the midfield.
In the 27th minute, Indian Oil centre-half Inderjeet Singh's attempt beat former India goalkeeper Ashish Ballal but Airlines defender V S Vinay, who was later adjudged the 'most promising player of the tournament', brought off a late clearance.
Two minutes later, mercurial forward Dhanraj Pillay's try, off Indian Airlines' third penalty-corner, was well-saved by India goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan.
With a minute to go for half-time Ballal came up with a good save when Lakwinder Singh tried to score off defender Inder Salaria's pass.
In the 60th minute, Dhanraj Pillay had a gilt-edged chance but failed to trap Prabodh Tirkey's pass.
At the fag end of extra-time, Ballal came up with the best save of the day when he stopped a stinging shot from Indian Oil defender Bikramjeet Singh following the team's sixth penalty-corner.
In the tie-breaker, internationals Sameer Dad, Vikram Pillay, Arjun Halappa and Prabodh Tirkey were bang on target for Indian Airlines, while only Bikramjeet Singh and international Prabhjot Singh managed to score for Indian Oil.
