Customs lift Hussain Silver Cup

PUNE: Mumbai Customs completed their maiden win with an easy 3-1 win over Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG) to lift the 8th Hussain Silver Cup at the Major Dhyanchand Poligras Stadium in Nehrunagar, Pimpri on Sunday.

In a battle of first-time finalists, Mumbai Customs began with flourish when Sakir Hussain (8th) drove home a penalty-corner past goalkeeper Yash Gondaliya to take the lead.

Five minutes from the break, Sports Authority of Gujarat reply in identical fashion as their opponents with Dhruvil Patel (25th) scoring to share honours 1-1 at the break.

On the switch over, Mumbai Customs, coached by Rahul Singh, struck early when Iktedar Ishret (31st) netted. SAG, thereafter, went into a slump and defended for most of the time. Seven minutes from time skipper and Player of the Tournament Jayesh Jadhav (53rd) completed the scoreline.

In the third-place play-off, Income Tax, Pune downed Mumbai Republicans 2-0 with strikes in the second half. Nitin Kumar (36th) and Ashish Cheti (39th) scored to settle the issue.

RESULTS
Final: Mumbai Customs: 3 (Sakir Hussain 8th; Iktedar Ishret 31st; Jayesh Jadhav 53rd) beat Sports Authority of Gujarat: 1 (Dhruvil Patel 25th). 
Third-place play-off: Income Tax Department, Pune: 2 (Nitin Kumar 36th; Ashish Cheti 39th) beat Mumbai Republicans: 0. 

Individual awards:
Best Goalkeeper: Yash Gondalia (SAG)
Best Defender: Ajitesh Roy (Income Tax Dept, Pune)
Best Half: Venkatesh Devkar (Mumbai Republicans)
Best Forward: Talib Shah (Hockey Pune)
Player of the Tournament: Jayesh Jadhav (Mumbai Customs)
Highest Scorer: Akash Sapkal (Railway Police Boys)