IOC set up title clash with PSB

<div class="section0"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">HYDERABAD: The national game will have new national champions this year. This was ensured when Indian Oil Corporation and Punjab and Sind Bank made their maiden appearance in the final to be played at the Gachibowli Stadium here on Tuesday. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">The rise of these two teams came at the expense of two greats in the history of the tournament — Indian Airlines and Services, respectively.In the semifinals here on Tuesday, IOC dethroned Indian Airlines 4-1, while PSB upset the calculations of Services 2-1. What is also unique about the finalists is that both had qualified for the Nationals through the associate members'' tournament at New Delhi. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">The semifinals were a study in contrast. Both IOC and Services took early lead, but while IOC maintained the tempo and built on the breakthrough, Services faltered and lost their way. Services suddenly went off the boil in the second session and started playing individualist game, allowing PSB to regroup and take control of the proceedings. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">With Prabhjot Singh and Deepak Thakur prominent on the flanks, IOC blazed to a 3-2 lead within 15 minutes of the start. Skipper Deepak Thakur put them ahead in the second minute with a fine goal and three minutes later, it was 2-0 for the Delhi-based team when Prabhjot Singh capitalised on a quick counter-attack. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Thakur made it 3-0 with a brilliant goal in the 15th minute when he breached the Airlines defence with a rasping reverse hit off a pass by Kamlesh Kumar Singh. The move was generated by Prabhjot Singh, who had a good game despite being guilty of holding on to the ball for long on many occasions. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Airlines, who were boosted by the return of Vikram Pillay and Sameer Dad, missed a bucketful of chances in either session. They had a good chance of reducing the lead in the 12th minute when they were awarded a penalty stroke after former international Altaf-ur-Rehman was stick-checked while taking a shot at the goal. But Arjun Halappa banged the ball into the post. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">With Halappa, Dhanraj Pillay, Sameer Dad, Vikram Pillay and Bimal Lakra picking up their game, Airlines dominated the second session but failed to score. While their strikes lacked direction, IOC also defended strongly. Airlines earned 10 penalty corners, including six in the second session, but could capitalise only on their 9th short corner. They met with success as they tried an indirect variation for a change. Sameer Dad pushed the ball straight to Dhanraj Pillay, standing few metres from him on the left side of the semicircle, instead of the stopper. Dhanraj slotted it past Devesh Chauhan with ease. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Results: Indian Oil 4 (Prabhjot Singh 5, 55; Deepak Thakur 2, 15) beat Indian Airlines 1 (Dhanraj Pillay 52 pc); Punjab and Sind Bank 2 (Navpreet Singh 43 pc, 55 pc) beat Services 1 (CS Xalxo 2 pc). </span><br /></div> </div>