Chandigarh, Dec 29: Former champions Bangalore Hi-Fliers enhanced their chances of making the semifinal as they put paid to the hopes of a fighting Chennai Veerans, handing them a 4-2 defeat in the fourth edition of the Premier Hockey League at the Sector 42 Stadium here on Saturday. Veerans, who suffered their fourth loss from four outings, are out of the reckoning for a semifinal berth.
Veerans played their best match in the tournament and dominated the first two quarters but Bangalore came back strongly in the second half.
Veerans hoisted the lead in the 14th minute, with drag-flick specialist Raghunath converting their only penalty corner with a powerful flick to the right corner of the net but their joy was short-lived as Bangalore restored parity within three minutes scoring a stunning field goal.
In the 17th minute, capping a right flank move, Arjun Halappa sent a fierce cross into the goalmouth from the right corner of the field and Cheyanna received it near the far post and sidestepped defender Vikramjit Singh and scored past Chennai custodian Sreejesh.
Chennai Veerans played a much better game today with their forwards Raja and Adam Sinclair making menacing moves upfront but it was Bangalore who increased the lead in the 40 th minute. Bangalore earned the first of their three short corners in the 40th minute. Len Aiyappa’s drag flick beat an outstretched Sreejesh in the Chennai goal but the goal-bound ball hit the shoulder of Chennai defender Raghunath. Umpire Parnam Singh consulted the TV umpire and confiremed the penalty storke. Len Aiyappa made no mistake from the spot shooting to the right of the goalkeeper. (2-1)
Chennai Veerans kept themselves in the race scoring the equalizer in the 49th minute through a brilliant field goal. Suresh sent a long through pass into the circle and skipper Adam Sinclair received the ball, pulled back and tapped into the goal. However, five minutes later Bangalore shot ahead once again with brilliant work from their Korean import You Hyo-sik.
In the 56th minute Hyo-sik sent a cross into the circle from the right and Sunil makes an attempt in the goalmouth. But with the ball rolling slowly, Cheyanna darts in from behind the rival goalkeeper and taps in. (3-2)
With Chennai going all out for the equalizer, Bangalore Hi-Fliers increased the margin with a minute to go from a swift turn over. In a counter attack from the left flank, Korean Hyo Sik darted into the circle and with Chennai goalie Sreejesh advancing at him, he scooped the ball over his head to Hariprasad in the goalmouth. Hari controlled the ball in the air and shot home into an open goal.
Cheyanna who scored two goals was awarded the man of the match.
Photo by Dharam Diwakar, Courtesy ESPN