Mumbai Magicians end seven-match losing streak by thrashing UP Wizards 4-0

By V Anand

Mumbai Magicians will play Punjab Warriors on Thursday. (TOI Photo)
MUMBAI: Magicians finally won a match in the Hockey India League (HIL), breaking their seven-game losing streak with a 4-0 rout of Uttar Pradesh Wizards in their eighth round match at the Mahindra Stadium on Wednesday. Ironically, the win was based on solid defence, a department that was vilified all through their marathon losing streak.

Sandeep Singh scored twice from drag flicks and swelled his goals tally to 11 in the league while Jason Wilson and Jonny Jasrotia scored the other two goals for the Magicians.

Apart from the opening minutes, UP Wizards were hardly given a look-in by the Mumbai defence. An early save helped the Mumbai goalkeeper PR Shreejesh warm up to the task and he made two outstanding saves — both off penalty corners — to keep Mumbai’s slate clean and deny UP a consolation point.

Jasrotia opened the scoring for Mumbai with a penalty corner conversion and after the opening skirmishes, the Mumbai defence settled down comfortably. Mumbai formed a screen ahead of their defence and most of the hard work was done by the players falling back to help the backline. Balls won in retackling were quickly converted into quick counter-attacks.

Then came the second Mumbai goal which stamped their supremacy. The defenders passed the ball around before Matthew Swann relayed the ball from the left to Jason Wilson on the right. Wilson got it right on his second attempt. In the final quarter, Sandeep scored the first of his two goals which sealed their win. UP Wizards opted to use the services of an extra outfielder in the last seven minutes and played without their goalkeeper to get a goal and a crucial point.

That ploy cost them another goal, as Sandeep slammed home a scorcher.