HIL 2016: M.N0.17: More cards than goals, even as Uttar Pradesh Wizards get full points against Punjab Warriors

A displeasing contest where more cards were scored than goals — three yellow and three green– ended with the visiting Uttar Pradesh Wizards earning full points against the hosts Jaypee Punjab Warriors at a 3-0 scoreline.

Its second straight win for the Wizards.

The Hockey India League was conceived to thrill audience, both on the stands and those glued to TV screens, even rules were tweaked to generate not just goals but a pleasing variety of field goals, but at Chandigarh today, the sparse crowd were not given any goal treat or rout but a boring ball possession game.

Instead, what they saw was yellow cards for Simon Orchard, Tobias Hauke and Nicholas Spooner while three others, Nithin Thimmaih, Jasjeet Kular and Jake Whetton have got green each.

Flurry of cards is an indicator how the game was full of so brusque and rough, eyesore for most part.

After a barren first half, Akashdeep Singh deflected deftly a cross to post a field goal, and then the visitors also converted a penalty corner to expand the lead to 3-0.

Despite close misses and sloppy game, expect great goalkeeping by PR Sreejesh, there was nothing to say about the quality of the game.

At the very start, Ramandeep Singh of UPW muffed up a open choice. He dived to connect a loose ball after chasing goalie fell, but on the move Mark Knowles just put the stick to deflect the flight of the ball. In the next quarter and in the fourth, again Ramandeep Singh muffed with such sitters.

The third quarter began on a similar note with both the teams playing a lot in the midfield. Uttar Pradesh Wizards however tried pressing hard through some classy passes but the hosts displayed their skills time and again to deny the visitors any opportunities to score. However the visitor’s perseverance to attack in the Punjab circle finally saw result. Mazzili and Jamie Dwyer combined so well to get the ball into D, and sent a cross into D, which Akashdeep Singh deflected for the long awaited goal.

The fourth quarter began with hosts, Jaypee Punjab Warriors desperately trying to find their feet back in the game, but the Uttar Pradesh Wizards seemed in no mood to give any chances to them.

Wizards continued their attack and their efforts saw results in the final minute of the game when Gonzalo Peillat made no mistakes in converting a penalty corner.

The Coal India Goal of the Match award of INR 50,000 was given to Akashdeep Singh (UPW) while his team mate Ramandeep Singh walked away with the Most Entertaining Player trophy. SV Sunil (JPW)won the Man of the Match award of INR 50,000. Armaan Qureshi (JPW) won the INR 25,000 Hero Emerging Player of the Match award.

Tomorrow, Kalinga Lancers and Delhi Waveriders will meet at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneshwar.