Army hold defending champions ONGC

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Watching ONGC struggling to recreate the magic that helped them capture everyone’s imagination on their successful march to winning the trophy in 2010, one can’t help but get the impression that their veneer of invincibility is getting eroded with each passing match.

For the third match on the trot, ONGC owing to the laxity in their defence went down a goal early before Gagandeep Singh came to their rescue with an absolute peach of a strike in the 38th minute as the holders were held to a 1-1 draw against Army XI in the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament here on Monday.

Army XI, displaying a lot of grit and fortitude had the better of the early exchanges as the match began under a dense cloud cover and soon rain pelted down causing the game to come to a halt for nearly 25 minutes.

When the match resumed, Army XI continued to pummel their heavily fancied opponents into submission and deservedly took the lead in the 17th minute when A.P. Siraju scored off a penalty corner.

Brimming with confidence, Army XI went close to swelling their lead on more than one occasion but a combination of tight defence and ineptitude in finishing meant that they went into the break with only a one-goal advantage.

That goal apart the first-half remained largely uneventful with ONGC’s wayward passing letting them down.

ONGC’s fortunes took a turn for the better in the second-half and they played with a free-flowing rhythm something that was glaringly missing in the first period. Making the most of a tiring backline, Gagandeep Singh drew the scores level.

Raising their standard of play following the equaliser, ONGC pulled out all the stops to bag the full three points but this was a day when P.T. Rao, goalkeeper of Army XI was at his vintage best making a host of stellar saves.

After a goalfest on Sunday in which a total of 29 were rammed in, goals were at a premium as both the matches put together produced only four.

IOB shaking off their two defeats in the earlier rounds were able to register their first points on the board after their 1-1 draw against Punjab National Bank.

After a drab first-half in which neither team looked likely to score, the action steadily improved and one could sense that a goal was around the corner.

IOB’s Rupinderpal Singh converted a penalty corner in the 43rd minute to help his team sneak ahead. But their lead stood only for four minutes as PNB’s Bangali Xess spread cheer on his team-mates’ faces by helping them share the honours.

Results: ONGC 1 (Gagandeep Singh) drew with Army XI 1 (A.P. Siraju), IOB 1 (Rupinderpal Singh) drew with PNB 1 (Bangali Xess).

Action today: All India Customs vs ICF (4 pm), IOC vs Indian Railways (5.45 pm).