Kolkata: Defending champions Air India kept themselves in hunt for a semifinal berth with a 4-3 win over South Central Railway in the Coal India Beighton Cup hockey tournament at SAI artificial turf on Monday.
In a group B quarterfinal league fixture, Air India took an early second minute lead through a Sameer Dad goal while Sommana made it 2-0 in the fifth minute.
Sommana completed a brace two minutes after the interval to help Air India take a commanding 3-0 lead. South Central Railway made a spirited comeback riding on a Belsajar Horo double strike in the 45th and 47th minutes.
But the Railmen failed to get an equaliser as the last year's winners settled the issue with a 53rd minute goal by Shivandar Singh.
South Central Railway reduced the margin when Lalit Upadhyay converted a penalty in the 65th minute but it was not enough as their chance of making the last-four was shattered.
Air India, Punjab National Bank and Army XI are in line for the two semifinal berths from group B which will be decided on Tuesday.
Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala thrashed Canara Bank 6-4 in an inconsequential group A quarterfinal league match.
Last year's runners- up Indian Oil and ONGC have already secured last-four berths.
TOI