M.No.27

DAY 14: Wednesday 14.3.2012:

It’s Punjabi tadka over Mumbai bhelpuri

This was sizzling hockey at its best – Sher-E-Punjab are known for their attacking hockey while rivals Mumbai Marines are reputed to be one of the toughest team in the Bridgestone World Series Hockey with a very disciplined outfit. Their tie was expected to be a high-voltage clash, and the jam-packed MHA Mahindra Stadium wasn’t disappointed with the fast-paced fare dished out by both teams, though in the end the visitors, Sher-E-Punjab finally won 3-2.

The crowd was stunned as Sher-e-Punjab’s Pakistani import Tariq Aziz struck in the very first minute even before they had settled in their seats. The Shers began in an aggressive manner and the very first move from the left flank brought dividend as the ball came off a defender stick in a goalmouth melee, and the unmarked Aziz pushed the ball into the net for a sensational start. Star striker Deepak Thakur struck twice in the last quarter to seal the match for the Shers. Though, Joga Singh, the livewire for the Marines today, struck the equalizer in the 12th minute and talented youngster Devender Walmiki converted his penalty corner just two minutes before the hooter, the match was over by then for the hosts.

The Shers continued to put pressure upfront and had more possession and circle penetrations in the first quarter but the Marines hung on and brought in a surprise equalizer in the 12the minute through Joga Singh, who trapped a long hit into the circle and in a quick move stunned the Sher goalkeeper with his equalizer.

Thereafter, both the teams played their hearts out and slowly Marines came back into the match with more possession. If Shers had more circle penetrations in the first quarter, Marines came back and dominated the play in the third quarter with more attacking moves but the both the second and quarters proved goalless.

However, both the teams dished out thrilling and exciting hockey in the last quarter which produced three goals. Deepak Thakur managed to stretch his stick after the goalkeeper was beaten in a penalty corner to make it 2-1 in the 56the minute and increased the lead with another exotic goal in the 63rd minute which saw two Marines defenders fumble at the all-important end.

When everyone though the match was over, Marines struck back with a penalty corner conversion in the 68th minute when Walmiki sent in a zooming shot past the goalkeeper after Sandeep Michael executed a perfect push. Marines made an all-out attempt with an immediate circle penetration but Shers defended in numbers and maintained their lead till the end.

Deepak Thakur was the toast of the day winning the Man of the Match award for his two goals.

M.No.28

DAY 14: Wednesday 14.3.2012:

With seven minutes remaining the Delhi Wizards-Chandigarh Comets match seemed to be heading for a goalless draw – the first of its kind in the Bridgestone World Series Hockey, but the action-packed tournament lived up to its reputation as the tie came alive suddenly in the 63rd minute. One of the finds of the tournament, penalty-corner expert Gurjinder Singh dragged a stunning flick into the net to give the Comets 1-0 win over the hosts.

On the other hand, Delhi Wizards flattered to deceive yet again as they must be ruing the missed chances in this crucial tie here at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Wednesday. Even as the match was veering towards a draw, Gurjinder stuck the all-important goal in the 63rd minute off the team’s third and last penalty corner, even as Rajpal Singh came close to equalize a minute later only to see young talent Harjot Singh taking the shot head on to block.

Some of the Comets fans, who had traveled from Chandigarh to support their team, stood exulting and relieved with their team’s hard-fought win, which was probably symbolic of the fact that each match from now onwards will count in the tournament.

However, their hotly-contested match, despite generating much heat, did not result in goals. Comets dominated the attack, but their forwards Ramandeep Singh, Ranjodh Singh and Sukhwinder Singh failed upfront, leaving coach Harendra Singh to make frequent substitutions. The trio let go a couple of deadly crosses from the nippy winger Sher Singh, a gem of a centre from Ajitesh Rai, and then a defence splitting feed by Jiwa Mahon.

The huge crowd support did not help the home side either when it earned its only penalty corner early in the match. Vikramjeet Singh firmly struck, aiming at the middle of the cage, but Comets goalkeeper Harjot Singh spotted the flight early on, and nonchalantly palmed it away.

Comets’ lone penalty corner in the first session failed to beat goalie Kamaldeep Singh. Otherwise precise, the Chandigarh team failed to capitalize the other penalty corner in the 43rd minute due to a poor stop, but thankfully Gurjinder Singh and Mathews Phillips sprinted back to the their citadel to block the counter attack launched by the deadly duo of Shakeel Abbasi and Rajpal Singh.

Comets overhauled their strategy in the fourth quarter to break the goal jinx. They came out with a ‘diamond’ set piece on the rival’s 25-yard area early in this quarter, intercepting a weak clearance by Jaswinder Singh. Comets’ previous match hero Lalit Upadhyay lunged forward to deflect the last sortie of the brilliantly executed set piece but Kamaldeep Singh, who got injured in the process, would still not budge. Today was the goalkeepers’ day had Gurjinder’s lone goal not turned the match on its head in the dying minutes.