Chattisgarh thumped Andhra Pradesh 7-4 in a Pool C match of the sub- junior (U-17) hockey nationals at the MHA stadium on Sunday.
With their second win in two days, the first of which came against Maharashtra, Chattisgarh have progressed to the knock-out rounds.
It was Andhra, who took the lead in the game through Kathik T in the ninth minute as the teams looked well-matched in the first quarter of an hour. However, with some good off-the-ball running and passing, Chattisgarh gave the Andhra defence, a number of scares. Eventually, they drew level when Nilesh converted a close range tap-in after Chandra Shekar, the Andhra goalie, saved Koghesvar Bag’s shot.
Andhra restored their advantage within two minutes when Yerri Swamy finished a quick counter-attack with a powerful shot from the right.
Chattisgarh found a way back when opposition defender Gopi M conceded a penalty corner for holding Raja Khan. Bag picked up the delivery and tried his luck, which was saved by Shekar again but hit in this time by Jubair Khan. The goal proved to be a turning point as Andhra could not regain the lead again in the game.
Chattishgarh took the lead in the 24th minute when they won a penalty corner. On this occasion, their defender Shah Rukh found the net with a drag-flick. Four minutes later, he scored again, this time through a penalty corner, which they won because Sumit Patle’s shot hit one of the Andhra defenders on the goal-line.
Andhra tried to make a comeback in the second period and they successfully brought the deficit down to just one in the very first minute as their captain V Sri Ranga finished an intricate passing move. However, that was their last piece of resistance against Chattisgarh, who dominated possession and made a number of forays into the Andhra circle.
Andhra now have to overcome Maharashtra in their last pool tie to qualify for the knock-out stages as they have one win over Goa.
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