PNB trounce CAG to allow BPCL enter Gold Cup semis

Punjab National Bank (PNB) thrashed Comptroller and Auditor General 4-1 and did a good turn for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, the third team in Pool B, to gain a berth in the semi-finals of the 49th All India Gold Cup hockey tournament here today.
PNB, who lost to BPCL and drew with CAG earlier in the league, had no hopes of qualifying, but played spoilsport for CAG.
BPCL will now meet last year's runners-up Air India, Mumbai, in the second semi-final tomorrow that will follow the first all-Mumbai semi-final between title holders Indian Oil and Indian Navy.
In an earlier inconsequential Pool A game, Army XI thumped Maharashtra State Police (MSP) 8-2 after leading 5-1 at half time.

In the PNB-CAG match, the former clearly dominated and were up 3-1 at half time.
Arjun Antil, who scored twice, opened the score for the Punjab bankmen in the 3rd minute with a field effort before CAG drew level 13 minutes later when Chandan Singh scored off a penalty corner.

But that was the last period of evenly matched play as the bankmen took control of the proceedings and notched their remaining goals through Jitendra Saroha (22nd minute, penalty corner), Hardeep Singh (23rd) and Antil (44th), both field efforts.
In the Army-MSP clash, Siraju struck thrice for the Army whose other goals came from the sticks of Vishwa Thakur, Chandan Aind, Bachatar Singh, Binoy Bhengra and captain E Lakra.

For the losers, Sagar Abdulle and Vinod Manugade found the mark.