PHL2007 Chennai Leg: Friday, the 5th Jan 2007.
Second Day, First Match. Match No.2
Shers open their account with narrow win
Chennai, Jan 5: Sher-e-Jallandhar opened their account in the Premier Hockey League 2007 with a narrow 1-0 win over neighbours Chandigarh Dynamos in the third edition at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Friday.
The match began on a fast note but both the teams failed to display any tactics or strategy resulting in a lack-lustre game in the first two quarters. Shers were more prominent in the attack in the second quarter having a better share of exchanges but lacked the precision in the front with their spearheads Gagan Ajit Singh and Baljit Singh Dhillion missing close chances.
However, Shers increased the tempo in the third quarter and earned the first penalty corner in the 41st minute. Gagan took the push, and Imran Khan who stopped the ball pushed it to Baljit Singh Dhillon while Kanwalpreet sold an effective dummy. Baljit sent in a grounder which was saved by Dynamos’ custodian Baljit Singh but it came back to Jarnail Singh after caressing defender Irshad Ali’s foot. Jarnail then undercut the ball with a powerful reverse hit and the ball settled in the net.
Later, Shers wasted two more short corners and would have gone ahead with their fourth and last set-piece drill. In a back-to-the pusher variation, Baljit Dhillon sent it back to Gagan Ajit, but the later’s sweep hit Jurgraj Singh’s foot before rolling in. But umpire Md Muneer already blew for a penalty stroke. Gagan Ajit, who took the stroke, sent a weak push and Dynamos goalie Baljit Singh had no problem palming it away.
Dynamos had one short corner while Shers converted the first corner to fetch the match-winner from the four they forced. Shers’ defender Kanwalpreet Singh won the Lion of the Day award.
PHL Second day, Second match
Match No.3
Lion Aiyappa salvages two points for Bangalore
Chennai, Jan 5: Len Aiyappa, the top-scorer of the first two editions of the Premier Hockey League, turned the tide for Bangalore Lions, scoring the match-winner in the silver goal extra-time to fetch two valuable points from their opening match under lights at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Friday.
Bangalore started with a flourish and drew the first blood in the 13th minute with `Lion’ Aiyappa sending a sizzling drag flick into the net. However, Lions lost the way in the match thereafter with Maratha Warriors turning on the heat. With Olympian Viren Rasquinha holding the midfield like a true marshall, the Warriors weaved patterns upfront and punched holes in the Lions’ defence. The Warriors’ midfield blossomed creating umpteen chances upfront and were equally good in falling back to defend. Their forwards too were quick in retackling and allowed no space to the star forwardline of Lions consisting of Pakistan’s Rehan Butt, Tushar Khandekar, Hari Prasad and Sandeep Michael.
Warriors scored the equalizer in the 26th minute following a move from the left flank initiated by Adnan Maqsood, who gave a short pass to Shivender Singh. Shivender fumbled but recovered to move ahead and put Bharat Kumar in possession. Bharat cut into the circle but his try was blocked by Lions’ goalie Bharat Chetri. Shivender got the rebound and sent a sizzler which hit the vertical. But an alert Gurbaj Singh slammed the ball and this time Chetri had no answer (1-1)
But Lions held off the sustained pressure thereafter and forced the match into the extra-time. In the first half of the silver goal period, with Bangalore Lions reduced to 10 players after an yellow card to skipper Arjun Halappa, Len Aiyappa scored a stunning drag flick from the team’s sixth and final short corner to clinch the issue and salvaged two points from the match. Warriors earned five penalty corners but failed to convert any of them.
According to PHL rules, the winners in the extra-time will only get two points for a win while the losers take one point. A win in the regulation time fetches three points.
Len Aiyappa was declared the Lion of the Day.
Reports Courtesy: ESPN