7th Sub-Junior Hockey C'ship: SAI beat Haryana 3-2 to reach semis

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Sports Authority of India edged past Hockey Haryana 3-2 to book their place in the semi-finals of the Hockey India 7th Sub-Junior National Championship 2017 (Men) A Division here on Thursday.

In the opening quarter-final clash of the day, Ankush gave Sports Authority of India the lead in the 5th minute with a smartly taken goal.

It took almost half an hour for another goal to arrive, Hockey Haryana equalising through Aryan Kadian in the 29th minute.

Within a minute though Ankush scored his second for Sports Authority of India's lead to reappear before captain Sunny Malik got Hockey Haryana back by converting a stroke to lead them into half-time on level terms.

In the second half, both teams became more cautious about leaving open spaces at the back, pushing on the counter and refusing to commit themselves fully. In the 59th minute, Rimanshu scored the goal that gave Sports Authority of India the lead, one they held on to as they became the first team to book their spot in the semi-finals.

In the second last-eight clash of the day, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy edged out Hockey Punjab 4-3 in a high scoring, high action thriller. Hockey Punjab opened the scoring in the 3rd minute of the game, Parteek Sharma giving them the lead. At the half hour mark, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy's Sourabh Pashine converting a penalty corner to draw them level.

Hockey Punjab were in no mood to sit back though, scoring right before half time via Navpreet Singh (33') to take the lead into the break. In the second half, Hockey Punjab solidified their advantage, Surdarshan Singh scoring in the 48th minute to give them a two-goal cushion.

From there on though, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy suddenly kicked into a higher gear, and started attacking with more intent. Two swift penalty corner conversions within a minute by Sourabh Pashine (59', 60') drew them level.

In the 65th minute, with another penalty corner, Sourbh Pashine slammed home, giving them the lead for the first time in the game. It was one they held on to, completing a brilliant fight back to move into the last four.

Meanwhile,Hockey Odisha beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey in the third quarter-final encounter via a shootout. In a tense and fiercely contested encounter, the two teams were inseparable after full time. It was Hockey Odisha who started off stronger, quicker and with more purpose.

Ajay Kumar Ekka gave them the lead in the 10th minute, a goal that was followed by Sushil Dhanwar's in the 31st minute, to take them into the break two goals to the good.

In a surprising twist though, Uttar Pradesh Hockey came out of the break fresher, and looking way more dangerous. They took advantage soon enough, scoring via Akhtar Ali (48') and Saurabh Anand (58') to draw level. Hockey Odisha latched up their defence soon enough though, and the despite a host of attacks, neither could break the deadlock at full time. In the subsequent shootout, Hockey Odisha triumphed 3-1 to move into the semi finals.

In the day's final quarter final Hockey Chandigarh beat Hockey Karnataka 7-0 to book the last semi-final spot. Captain Jaspreet Singh lead the way for his team with a brace (1', 13') as Hockey Chandigarh strung up an impressive victory. In an utterly dominant performance, the other goal scorers for Hockey Chandigarh were Sanjay (6'), Arshdeep Singh (34'), Maninder Singh (59'), Amandeep (60') and Sahibjeet Singh (70').