Exciting hockey marked the opening match. Three field goals were struck

in the first quarter. Kalinga cancelled out two goal deficit and then

took a lead. Both teams messed up six penalty corners and a stroke over

all. Yet there were five goals on board. Just 40 secs left in the clock

for the hosts’ celebration. But things turned upside down. Edward

Ockenden and Akashdeep Singh came out with guns blazing. Two gem of goals

each to turn the tide. UP Wizards, which even missed out a stroke, walked

away with a 8-6 victory (4-3 on goals). Today hockey won.

Opening match at Kalinga stadium, played against full stands, turned out to be thriller. Defender Wouter Jolie, who ultimately got the Best Goal Scorer award, struck off a long ball to set the scoring spree, and then Kenny Bain added one. At the closing moments of first quarter, Pardeep Mor, with lot of guile and reflex, scopped an entangled ball high into the goal from backline to narrow down the lead (4-2) at first quarter end.

Glen Turner, almost single handedly turned the tide in favour of his side with a twin strikes.

A rough tackle by Gurjinder Singh, who otherwise had a great game, led to a stroke when UPW were trailing by 4-6 scoreline. Kalinga went for a referral which they lost, but Raghunath, who made a many a good saves, pushed wide even after getting goalie Carter on wrong side.

At that point of time, just 40 secs left in the clock. Probably the Kalinga’s were lax after Raghu’s mishap, but the Wizards showed their killing instinct in those seconds coming up with two goals, one by Ockendon and the last second goal by costliest Indian player, Akashdeep Singh.

Akash collected a rebound, handled it for good direction and then hit to the right of goalie, and even before the ball entered the cage, he was so sure that he preferred to lie on the turf, throwing hands skywards.

For a side that had the likes of Argentinean penalty corner expert Gonzalo Peillat and our own gem Raghunth could not convert five penalty corners, but with never say die attitude won the day.

Glenn Turner, almost single handedly turned the tide in favour of his side with a twin strikes.

Kalinga was on upper hand in the third quarter, but could not add a goal, which in the ultimate analysis proved their undoing.

After prolonged spell of subdue, UPW came out strongly in the last five minutes or so, especially after Raghunath pushed the controversial stroke– which survived a scare of referral– wide, even after getting the goalie misjudge his move.

Last minute proved to be the game changer. Egged on by Ramandeep Singh, who missed out a couple of sitter earlier, UPW forwards made frequent inroads, leaving Moritz Furste and Co in the defence in jitters.

Left alone, Carter could prevent only the first shot but with lacking support, he was beaten twice in the last minute.

The crowd was silenced. Kalinga once again start their campaign on a losing note.

Glen Turner won the Man of the match award.