Shivendra Singh struck three times in the latter part of the second half to help defending champions Air India rally after conceding an early goal and thump Mumbai Customs 7-2 for their second win in the 12th PMC Bank Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup hockey tournament here today.
The former international provided AI the all-important lead by scoring the fifth goal of the game just past the middle of the second half, after the two sides trooped out deadlocked 2-2 at half time, following which the title holders rode roughshod and emerged handsome winners.
Shivendra scored the fifth, sixth and ninth goals for his side who had beaten local outfit Central Railways 3-2 yesterday.
The other goals for AI were scored by ex-international Sameer Dad, a field effort brought them on level terms after Customs had gone ahead through a penalty corner goal by Dhananjay Singh, Janma Majhi (penalty corner), Birendra Lakra (field goal) and veteran Arjun Halappa (penalty stroke).
Jayesh Jadhav, with a brilliant reverse-flicked goal, had brought Customs level in the first half but he also missed a golden chance to score, besides muffing a penalty stroke.
In an earlier Pool A clash, Rail Coach Factory (Kapurthala) routed Food Corporation of India 8-1 after trailing 0-1 initially.
Aniket Muthaiya gave FCI, who lost to Central in their opening game, a surprise sixth minute lead after which they were at the receiving end as RCF pumped in goals regularly - four each in either half.
RCF's goal getters were M G Poonacha (3, all field goals), Gagandeep Singh (penalty corner), captain Sanjay Bir (field), Gavravjeet Singh (penalty corner), Ajmer Singh (penalty corner) and Sandeep Singh (field).
(Reopens SPB2)
In a Pool B match, Western Railway rode on Vinod Singh's double strikes to overcome Punjab National Bank by a 3-1 margin and record a deserving win.
Vinod scored in the 16th and 53rd minutes and Ayappa got the third in the 61st minute.
The Punjab outfit managed to reduce the deficit through Gagandeep Singh's goal on the stroke of the half-time hooter.
Pool A: RCF, Kapurthala 8 (Poonacha M G 14th, 18th, 52nd minutes, Gurjinder Singh 25th, Sanjay Bir 29th, Gavravjeet Singh 45th, Ajmer Singh 54th, Sandeep Singh 65th) beat FCI 1 (Aniket Muthaiya 6th).
Air India 7 (Sameer Dad 12th, Janma Majhi 15th, Shivendra Singh 53rd, 56th, 70th, Birendra Lakra 58th, Arjun Halappa 69th) beat Mumbai Customs 2 (Dhananjay Singh 11th, Jayesh Jadhav 32nd).
Pool B: Western Railway 3 (Vinod Singh 16th, 53rd, Ayappa 61st) beat Punjab National Bank 1 (Gagandeep Singh 35th).
