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WR win thriller to lift Gold Cup

May 06, 2005 23:05 IST

Schemer Shivendra Singh scored two brilliant field goals in the last five minutes to help local league champions Western Railway pip holders Punjab and Sind Bank 4-3 in a thrilling final of the 43rd All India Bombay Gold Cup hockey tournament in Mumbai on Friday.

Shivendra scored his first goal when he deflected in an inch-perfect diagonal centre from fellow fronliner Harish Timori in the 32nd minute of the second half.

He then went on a magical solo run, weaving his way past two PSB defenders on the right before scoring with a reverse flick to pilot Western to their first Gold Cup crown in three decades.

The title triumph, the first for the railmen since 1975 in the tournament, also helped them avenge the 1-3 defeat at the hands of the national champions in the last year's final.

Earlier, PSB came from behind twice to neutralise the 1-0 and 2-1 leads taken by Western before going in front 3-2  for the first time in the clash in the 58th minute.

But their grand rally was in vain as Shivendra sunk them with two golden goals, the first of which was disputed by the bankmen who felt that he had not touched the ball.

Penalty corner expert Gursev Singh had put Western in front twice (in the 20th and 48th minues) off penalty corners which were neutralised by PSB forward Harpreet Singh (31st) and drag flick specialist Vikramjit (43rd).

PSB then led 3-2 via a penalty stroke conversion by Rajwinder Singh after their schemer Baljit Singh Chandi's stick was hooked when on a dangerous foray into the rival circle by a Western defender before Shivndra's twin strikes.

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