Pune Strykers rally to beat Mumbai Marines 4-2

PUNE: Nikkin Thimmiah fired two goals in three minutes as Pune Strykers came from behind to beat Mumbai Marines 4-2 in a World Series Hockey match on Friday. Mumbai Marines held the lead briefly with goals from Banmali Xess and Aijub Ekka in the first half before Gurpreet Singh and Mario Almada restored parity. Thimmaiah slammed his goals after the half-time to ensure full points for the hosts.

The visitors dominated the first quarter of the game and drew first blood in the 15th minute through Xess, who took advantage of a lapse in the rival defence. Aijub Ekka made it 2-0 for Marines in the 25th minute.

The hosts, however, saw a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes after these two goals. Pune pulled one back in the 27th minute off a penalty corner by their drag-flick expert Gurpreet Singh before Argentine import Mario Almada levelled the score with a fine reverse flick in the 33rd minute. After the breather, Strykers mounted pressure from the right flank and netted the third goal through substitute Thimmaiah. He trapped a cross pass from Damandeep Singh and gave his side the upper hand with a 43rd minute strike. The striker was again in action when he beat goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza in the 44th minute.

In another match, Karnataka Lions beat Sher-E-Punjab 2-1 in Bangalore.