Mumbai: Former champions Army XI and Air India (North) recorded contrasting victories over local outfits Mumbai Customs and Namdhari XI to stay firmly in the hunt for the lone semifinal place from Pool B in the 46th Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament here today.

While Army XI rode roughshod and whipped a hapless Customs 9-2, after leading 4-0 at half time, the star-studded AI (North), formerly Indian Airlines, outsmarted Namdhari XI 2-0 by scoring once in each half at the Mahindra Stadium.

The final pool match between the armymen and the airmen, scheduled for Wednesday, would decide who will advance to the semi finals following their second straight victories today. The armymen were too fit, fast and skillful for Customs and scored at will by breaking through the rival defence without too much trouble.

Full back Rajesh Lakra warmed up late in the match to become the top scorer for the army team with three goals while captain and medio Dhananjay Mahadik and ebullient forward Anil Kumar Ekka scored a brace of goals each. Forward Chittaranjan Singh, who opened the floodgates for the armymen with an eighth minute strike, and midfielder Jerom Kujur were the other goal-getters for Army XI.

Fine second half field goals from Victo Singh and Stanley Fernandes, when the armymen relaxed their hold a bit, gave the beaten outfit Customs some consolation. In the earlier tie between AI (North) and Namdhari XI, the former held a clear edge and scored through Jitender Saroha, off their first penalty corner, and international Arjun Halappa, off a minus pass from former India skipper Dhanraj Pillay, in the 30th and 51st minutes.

Source : PTI