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.
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