“We were never out of the race”, said emphatically the beaming Australian-import coach of Dabang Mumbai, Jason Stacy, after his team bulldozed home team Delhi Waveriders.
The loaded question was posed to him after today’s entertaining encounter, against the backdrop of four consecutive loses the team had suffered in the beginning.
“We knew we will do better. Yes, we lost in the first phase, but at the same time all the parameters were falling in line, we were asserting, holding sway on the turf. Results did not come, but since we were doing well, and lost some matches closely, we were sure we will do better in the coming matches, today is one such”, the former Australian Olympic medallist, said.
Dabang Mumbai, playing each match away in the first four outings, lost all. It created an impression that the Mumbai team is jinxed since it did not qualify for the semis in the last three editions too.
Today also the team did not show any symptoms of great victory (3-8) it ultimately achieved, as it trailed by a field goal and a penalty corner goal till the tend of third quarter.
Thereafter, the team inflicted four sharp field goals, reflected as 8-3 on the scoreboard, to romp home a famous victory.
This is the second biggest victory in the fourth Hockey India League after 2-10 number which Kalinga posted on hapless Uttar Pradesh Wizards.
The four field goals stunned not only the home crowd, but also the careful watchers.
Stay is a penalty corner expert in his hey days, and it was naturally expected his team will bang on penalty corners to come out successful in crucial matches. However, Dabang Mumbai on the contrary is one of the poorest performers on this count.
When he was asked whether the team’s inability to convert any of the eight penalty corners in to goal in the first match had impacted his game plan, he said emphatic no.
“No, not at all. We still accord importance to penalty corners, and are getting it too. We play as the rival pose the challenge, and our ability to press in the circle. There is no boardroom effort to diminish the value of the penalty corner”.
With the 8-3 victory today, the visiting team that had dropped to bottom of the table since the Coal India Hockey India League started mid way through last month, rose to fourth position now, pushing UP wizards to fifth and today’s host Delhi Waveriders to bottom.