Lions in semis despite loss

Chandigarh, March 29, 2012:

Randhawa scores a hat-trick as Strykers score thrilling 5-4 win

Karnataka Lions secured their semifinal spot in the World Series Hockey tournament despite suffering a crushing 1-6 loss against Chandigarh Comets here on Thursday.

Although Pune Strykers struck a late winner in a high-scoring 5-4 win over Bhopal Badshahs to level on points with the Lions at 21, the latter sealed their knockout berth by virtue of having won an extra match.

While the Lions have won seven matches to stay third, the Srykers climbed up to fourth but have won a match lesser than the former.

As a result, the Strykers’ further particpation in the tournament will depend on the Chennai Cheetahs’s match against Mumbai Marines on Friday. With 19 points in their kitty, the Cheetahs need nothing less than a victory to seal their semifinal spot. A draw or loss would mean Strykers enter the semifinals along with league leaders Comets (28), Sher-E-Punjab (25) and Lions (21).

Meanwhile, Gurjinder Singh led Comets’ assault with four goals as Comets made mincemeat of a weakened Lions.

The Lions, with an eye on the semifinals, decided to rest some of their key players and the second string squad failed to test the Comets, who simply blazed away from the second quarter.

After a barren opening quarter, the Lions stroked ahead in the 25th minute, Sandeep Singh firing home from a penalty corner. However, that remained to be the visitors only moment of joy as the Comets hit back in thumping fashion.

Gurjinder levelled proceedings for the hosts through a penalty corner in the 33rd minute before Ramandeep Singh made it 2-1 a minute later.

Gurjinder then netted his second and third in the 56th and 62nd minute while Barkat Singh added one to his name in the 64th minute. Gurjinder then wrapped up a brilliant day in the office for him and the Comets, slotting the fourth goal three minutes from time.

Randhawa shines

Simrandeep Randhawa (52nd, 55th, 60th) came up with a brilliant hat-trick as Strykers staged a brilliant fightback to down hosts Badshahs.

Nikkin Thimmaiah (10th) and Birendra Lakra (68th) scored one piece for the Strykers.
For Badshahs, Waseem Ahmad (4th, 50th), Karan Bhaskaran (7th) and Affan Yousuf (21st) sounded the board.

Playing at home, Badshahs were leading 2-0 in the first quarter but Nikkin reduced the gap to 2-1 in the 10th minute.