AG punjab move into semis

Chandigarh, Nov 28 (UNI) AG Punjab continued their winning spree as they beat AG Bihar by 3-2 in a well- fought league match and become the first team to ensure a semi-final berth of the All India Inter-Zonal league-cum-knock-out Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD) Hockey Tournament at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here today.

AG Bihar opened the account in the ninth minute when Om Parkash beat the AG Punjab defence. AG Punjab hit back and restored parity in the 17th minute through Inderjjit Singh who converted a penalty corner. Four minutes later, Vikram Saini of AG Punjab gave an immaculate pass to Harpreet Singh Gill who made no mistake. AG Punjab led 2-1 in the first half.

In the second half Yakub Nag of AG Bihar equalized in the 40th minute with a penalty-corner goal. In the 53rd minute Inderjit Singh beat the AG Bihar goalkeeper with a powerful penalty corner hit.

Earlier, AG Rajasthan defeated AG Orissa by 4-2. AG Orissa took the lead when Rajeshwar Ekka scored a field goal in third minute. Biswaranjan Sarangi converted a penalty corner in the 17 th minute. Abhiraj Singh of AG Rajasthan reduced the margin in 18th minute. Mohit Rozario of AG Rajasthan levelled the score in 28th minute. The teams were at 2-2 at half time.

After resumption, Sandeep of AG Rajasthan gave his team the lead in 33rd minute. Deshraj of AG Rajasthan converted a penalty stroke in the 38th minute and helped his team to win the match by 4-2.

In another match, AG Karnataka outclassed AG Nagpur by 3-2. Raju Joseph of AG Nagpur scored the first goal for his team in 18 th minute. AG Karnataka bounced back with two successive goals scored by Pursha and Cladius in 33rd and 44th minutes. Ram Mohan of AG Nagpur equalised in 45th minute. Korrgapa of AG Karnataka snatched the winner in the 52 nd minute.

AG AP and Delhi Audit played at 2-2 draw. AG AP's Vijay Kumar opened his account in the 16 th minute. Habeeb Mohamaad of AG AP enhanced his team's lead by scoring a field goal in 21st minute.

Delhi Audit reduced the lead in the 40th minute when Jagminder Singh converted a penalty corner. Sanjiv Sharma of Delhi Audit sounded the board in the 51 st minute through a penalty corner.

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