HYDERABAD, DEC 9: There was a momentary sunshine on a cloudy day at the Begumpet Hockey Stadium this morning. Railways sparkled breifly before going down 1-3 to Services, making their exit from the fourth Federation Cup Hockey Championship. Air-India, also facing a must-win situation, took some time but stepped on the pedal splendidly to subdue an entertaining Gujarat 5-2, after falling back twice.

The winners secured second positions in Group B and Group A, respectively, and semifinal berths as well.

The semifinal line up is: Group A winners Airlines vs Group B runners-up Services and Group B toppers Punjab vs Group A runners-up Air-India.Gujarat fired the first salvo in the 10th minute when Lakhan Lal cooly scored from Kamlesh's pass.

Air-India, playing without suspended stars -- international Anil Aldrin and Gaganjit Singh spurned a chance through Kishore Kumar from a short pass by Davinder.An opportunistic goal by experienced Darryl D'Souza in the 29th minute restored the parity. Following their third penalty corner, Surinder Kunde took a powerful indirect hit which struck the upright first and after a couple of rebounds, D'Souza scooped it in much to the relief of the entire team.

However seconds later, forward Rajesh Pawar dived full length to connect a rebound to regain the lead for Gujarat only for the airmen to draw level through Rajesh Chauhan from a penalty-corner.

With scores level at half-time, the Gujarat boys ran out of steam after the break. Air-India then grabbed the match with a three-goal blitz in 13 minutes.

Davinder put his side ahead with two quick goals. He first deflected a fine cross from the hardworking Edgar Mascarenhas. The speedy winger then collected a pass from Alex D'Souza to sound the boards to make it 4-2. Towards the end D'Souza combined with Chauhan to score.

RAILWAYS BOW OUT: Railways, the National champs, never looked like emerging victors. While cohesion was missing in the forward-line, their penalty corner conversion left much to be desired as half-a-dozen chances went abegging.

The armymen went ahead through K Horo's casual reverse hit, off a pass from Ajay Lakra, that brushed Railway custodian Ambuj Srivastava's pads before landing in the left-corner of the goal.

Poonacha converted a penalty-corner to swell the lead in the 53rd minute before Anand Velu found the target two minutes later to put the issue beyond doubt. Mishra reduced the margin, converting a stroke, three minutes before the close.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.