Tribune: Rays sharper than Lancers
Ranchi come back from behind to beat Kalinga Lancers 3-2
Bhubaneswar, february 8
Defending champions Ranchi Rays came from behind to eke out a 3-2 victory over Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League match. With this win, Rays go top of the table with 27 points.
Lancers drew first blood in the ninth minute with a field goal from Dharamvir Singh. The visiting team made a comeback in the next minute with an excellent penalty corner conversion from the Rays captain Ashley Jackson. The score at half time stood at 2-1 in favour of Lancers.
Rays started the third quarter on an attacking note. Lancers were put on the backfoot from the start of the quarter and weren’t allowed to go past the half line.
The end of the third quarter saw some attacking moves from the home team but none of them were converted.
The third quarter ended with the score still at 2-1 in favour of the home team.
Mohd Amir Khan’s goal in the 49th minute gave Rays a one-goal lead at a critical juncture of the game. Lancers started pressing hard in order to equalise and got an opportunity to score in the 53rd minute but failed to convert the penalty corner.
The last moments of the game saw numerous attacking moves but none of them were converted into a goal and Rays won the match.
The man of the match award was given to Mohd. Amir Khan of Ranchi Rays.
Waveriders desperate to snap losing streak
On a three-match losing streak, Delhi Waveriders would be desperate to return to winning ways when they take on Dabang Mumbai in a round-robin league match tomorrow. Having lost four out of seven games they played so far Waverriders are languishing at the fifth spot in the six-team event.