HHIL Match 19 & 20: Sunday matches inspire none as goals hard to come by

With two high profile matches lined up for Sunday, expectation rose high for the followers of Hero Hockey India League, but there was disappointment in store.

The matches went the predicted way; first Kalinga Lancers, new franchise, going down 1-3 to Uttar Pradesh Wizards while the prime time second match threw a damphner with a dull 1-0 win for the visiting Rhinos.

Despite mainstay of Ranchi Rhino, Ashley Jackson getting injured, and other good going Maritz Furste not in his form he showcased yesterday, Mumbai magicians failed to strike a goal before going down by a solitary goal, stuck early in the match by Justin Reid Ross, who was later given two individual awards for steering his side to full points.

Cine star Vivek Oberoi and famous designers turned up to cheer their home team Mumbai, but the team has nothing to offer, even the well know stars on its array like Glen Turner, turning either individualistic in approach and rust in executing their wares.

Glen, in fact is culprit of all that is went wrong for the Mumbai side as he fumbled with good move either he created or from his hardworking souls like Vikas Pillay

But what disheartens is how it went on: not even a goal in next two quarters after the early lead, and then no penalty corners in the first three quarters, and all three coming in last quarter. To see top notch players of the world strike the ball on either side of the net, instead the trained target of inside of net, and then the host team not even adept at getting some penalty corners to give enough space for its main man Gurjinder Singh, speak volume about the poor state of affairs of Mumbai

Only thrill of the match was Mumbai getting a penalty corner, its first and last, just 40 sec remained for the hooter, with hopes of holding the Rhinos, but Gurjinder’s expected conversion did not take place, as Ravi Pal, who other wise had a reasonable outing, fumbling with a short rebound he got from Francisco Cortes.

Earlier in the day, the first match saw Kalinga going down 1-3, with the losing side’s goal coming after conceding two goals and before the last goal of Teun de Nooijer.

Argentinean star Gonzalo Peillat converting a PC.