Mumbai: Star-studded Air India did local outfit Central Railway a big favour by notching a comprehensive 6-2 victory over South Central Railway to knock the latter out of the 9th Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup hockey tournament here today.
Having already booked a berth in the last four ahead of their concluding Pool B tie, AI rode roughshod over their rivals South Central in the second half after the teams were tied 1-1 at half time.
AI would meet Indian Oil in the second semi final tomorrow at the Mahindra Stadium while Central, who edged out South Central on better goal difference after whipping Bhopal XI 17-2 in their concluding group tie, would lock horns with Oil and Natural Gas Commission in the first semi final.
The goal-scorers for AI in their clash against South Central, who took the early lead in the 21st minute through a field goal by Rajinder Yadav, were Mathais Minz (2 goals) Sameer Dad (2), Ajmer Singh ? who got the first half equalizer - and M K Mudappa.
For SC Railway, Irshad Mirza scored the second goal.
In the one-sided clash between Central and Bhopal, Amit Singh and Ajaz Qureshi notched five and four goals respectively for the former.
Shashi Topno (3), Shamsher Khan (2) were the other multiple goal getters for the local railway team while Nilesh Mane, Navneet Swarnakar and Deepak Lakra scored one each.
Sachin Bhatnakar and Imran Yusuf found the target for the losers.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, January 10, 2010, 20:58