Gritty Ranchi Rays hold Dabang Mumbai 2-2 in HIL

RANCHI: Continuing their gritty performances, Ranchi Rays came from two goals down to hold Dabang Mumbai 2-2 in a Hero Hockey India League encounter at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium here on Wednesday.

Daniel Beale (16th) and skipper Ashley Jackson scored for the hosts, after Glenn Turner (12th) and Santa Singh (15th) put the visitors on top. Both the teams get two points each from the drawn match.

Mumbai started on on a good not with their midfielders linking well with the forwards and the defenders. They were helped by poor defence from Ranchi in the first quarter.

In the 12th minute, young Harmanpreet Singh went up to the right and crossed it to veteran Arjun Halappa, who hit it at the goal before being deflected in by an unmarked Australian Turner.

In the final minute of the first quarter, Turner was again in the thick of the action as he set up young Santa Singh in front of the goal. The ball easily entered the goalpost in another display of poor defence by Ranchi, who looked unorganised at the back.

However, Ranchi came roaring back in the second quarter. In the first minute, veteran English playmaker Barry Middleton fed 16th young midfielder Beale inside the circle. The Australian employed an energetic reverse-hand strike to make it 1-2.

Ranchi created good chances to equalise but wasted them with Englishman Jackson missing a penalty corner. However, the short corner specialist made amends for the missed chance in the 38th minute as he blasted it into the top-right corner of the post to equalise 2-2.

Thereafter, both the teams got their chances but failed to convert them. Young Mandeep Singh was unlucky to not get a goal as he hit the side bar in a quick raid inside the Mumbai circle.