PNB edge past CAG to top pool, enter quarters at hockey meet

Punjab National Bank (PNB) posted their second win on the trot by beating Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) 4-3 in the concluding all-Delhi Pool C league match of the 51st All India Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament here today.
The victory helped PNB, the recent winners of the All India Surjit Singh Memorial tournament, book a berth in the quarter-finals by topping the pool with six points.
CAG and the third team in the pool -- Delhi XI -- finished with four points each and an identical goal-differential of minus one but the former team made the grade because they had scored more goals.

In another game, Mumbai Super League champions Indian Navy cruised to a fluent 5-3 win over Western Railway in a Pool D clash, but both the teams made the grade with Navy finishing first and Western second in the pool.
CAG started on a positive note against PNB and snatched an early lead when Deepanshu Bhargav scored from a field effort in the fourth minute.
The bank team made a strong reply with Sumit Toppo scoring a field goal in the 15th minute. Three minutes later Gagandeep Singh (Jr) converted from a penalty corner to give the bankers a 2-1 half-time lead.

On resumption, CAG managed to restore parity when Imran Khan hit the target in the 44th minute.
PNB again struck two quick goals through a second penalty corner conversion by Gagandeep in the 51st minute and a field effort by Navin Antil, four minutes later.
CAG, in danger of making an exit, pumped in a vital third goal through Deepanshu in the 60th minute to secure the quarterfinal berth.