Air India beat Indian Oil in Beighton final

Kolkata: Star studded Air India lifted the Coal India 115th Beighton Cup with a 2-1 win over last year`s winners Indian Oil at SAI artificial turf here on Wednesday. Air India struck both the goals in the first-half of final through Birendra Lakra (12th) and Vikram Pillay (34th). Indian Oil looked to fight back after the changeover as they reduced the margin through V R Raghunath (48th) but they were unlucky on a couple of occasions to concede the title to Air India. The defending champions began on an attacking note with India international Prabhjot Singh looking for early inroads. Indian Oil were awarded two penalty corners early into the match in the 4th and 8th minutes. The drag-flick specialist Prabhjot almost converted the second one but some brilliant work by Air India custodian Adrian D`Souza denied Indian Oil the lead. Boasting four players from the Asian Games squad in Vikram Pillay, Arjun Halappa, Gurbaj Singh and Prabhod Tirkey who missed the final due to injury, Air India drew the first blood when Lakra slammed home in the 12th minute. Before Indian Oil could settle down, the Dhanraj Pillay coached side banged in the second goal with some fine work by Vikram Pillay who was adjudged man of the tournament. In an intense second-half, Indian Oil reduced the margin after Raghunath converted a penaly corner in the 48th minute. Indian Oil almost brought the match on an even keel in the 61st minute from a penalty corner but their specialist drag-flicker Prabhjot hit the right post much to the relief of Air India. Earlier, last year`s runners-up South Central Railway settled for a third place, defeating Punjab Sports Club 5-1. Amit Srivas (49th, 53rd), Janardhan Gupta (32nd), Mayank James (64th) and B Horo (69th) struck in South Central Railway`s rout of Punjab Sports. Pawan Bassi struck the solitary goal for the Punjab outfit. PTI