Sabu's stunner leaves TN Colts gasping

PSB 2 Bengal 0

BP 5 TN Colts 4

By Our Hockey Correspondent

CHENNAI, AUG. 20 Sport acquires that touch of fantasy when it accentuates the element of unpredictability. Something akin to this occurred this evening at the Radhakrishnan Stadium when Tamil Nadu Colts forced the more formidable Bharat Petroleum to plough back its resources of experience and expertise to recover from a near hopeless 2-4 margin in the last 10 minutes and end on the side of victory through a spectacular goal by Sabu Varkey in the final minute of a Pool C match in the Madras Cricket Club- Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament.

Fluent in its movements, the TN Colts almost exorcised the periods of ennui that marked the earlier encounter where the defending champion, Punjab and Sind Bank, prevailed over Bengal in a match that was devoid of the dynamics that makes hockey a popular spectator sport.

PSB, however, made it to the last eight along with IHF Juniors, which finished higher by virtue of goal-difference, in Pool A.

Inspired and showing no hint of inhibitions, the Colts not only displayed variety but also vigour in their workouts. A shock goal in the early minutes by Youvan Sugirdaraj acted as tonic for its front-line, led admirably by skipper Saravana Kumar, and put the Petroleum defence under stress.

Headed by Amar Ayamma and Sabu Varkey, Bharat Petroleum, ventured to attack but that was repulsed by the Colts defence, for whom goal-keeper Rajarajan was outstanding. Some of the saves from him were eye-catching. However, Anurag Raghuavanshi succeeded in slotting in the equaliser, and not long after Sukhbir Singh Gill diverted a corner hit into the net. But the lead was shortlived as Saravanakumar restored parity before the breather from a shot by Suresh.

Clearly escalating the pace, the Colts went ahead with a goal by Saravanakumar and followed it with a penalty stroke award which Palanivel Nathan converted. Umpire Satish Sharma showed no hesitation in penalising goal-keeper Bopanna for obstructing a fluent run by Youvan Sugirdaraj.

Leading 4-2 with only a quarter of an hour remaining, the Colts were on the threshold of an upset of the first magnitude.

It was at this point that Bharat Petroleum realised the danger of its getting dented beyond repair. Everything was pooled in to ensure a combined onslaught, and it succeeded in that. A penalty corner melee, seven minutes from the hooter, ended with K.T. Mohan giving a lease of life for Petroleum.

Then came the equaliser (4-4) from Amar Ayamma. On the cards was a draw. But when only a solitary minute remained for the hooter, came the match-winner from Sabu Varkey, a stunning drive from the fringes of the 25-yard line. The ball travelled like a fireball from a cannon into the boards, leaving the Colts wondering how chances of a victory can vanish into thin air in matter of minutes if adequate safeguards are not worked out to hold on to the lead of even two goals.

Gathering six points from two matches, Bharat Petroleum has moved to the top spot in Pool C for a place in the last eight.

Indian Airlines and Tamil Nadu Colts fight for the second place on Tuesday morning.

With Bengal not offering the resistance expected of it, Punjab and Sind Bank played at a leisurely pace, exerting only to the level of striking twice and content to take it easy in the rest of the match in Pool A.

Punjab and Sind Bank, which collected four points, however, had to be satisfied with the second place in the pool, the top spot going to IHF Juniors with a goal difference of plus four (8-4) against the plus two (4-2) by PSB.

However, both the teams have made the grade and await the configuration in Pool C on Monday.

Moving well thanks to the initiative of the main striker, Parminder Singh, PSB had everything going for it in the match. What accentuated the thrust of the PSB attack was the second- minute goal by Parminder Singh.

Even before the Bengal defence could settle down, Parminder hit the target.

The second goal that Parminder fashioned was a beauty. Eluding a set of defenders with delectable body dodge and dribbling his way for over 30 yards, Parminder drew the goal- keeper out of his charge, and flicked the ball across to Baljit Singh Chandi to complete the move.

Try as they did, the Bengal players could not work out a rhythm that was so pronounced in the earlier match. Barring Gurdayan Singh, none of the others could do anything constructive. Bengal finished its programme with a solitary point.

Tuesday's matches: Indian Airlines vs. TN Colts (7 a.m.); Quarterfinals: Indian Railways vs. Karnataka (1-30 p.m); Tamil Nadu vs. Air India (3-45 p.m.).

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