PHL 2007: Sixth Day, the 9th Jan 2007.
Match No.8. (Marata Warriors Vs Chandigarh Dynamos

Abbasi scores brace in Sultans’ win

Chennai, Jan 9: Hyderabad Sultans earned their first win of the Premier Hockey League with a 2-1 result over Maratha Warriors at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Tuesday. Shakeel Abbasi put the Sultans in the lead in the 30th minute and then scored the winner late in the match after his Pakistan team mate Imran Warsi had neutralised the lead in the 54th minute.

It was exciting fare right through, with the action swinging end-to-end. The Warriors, perhaps feeling the effects of their marathon match on Monday, looked rusty early on, and the Sultans had the slight advantage. Tariq Aziz was a standout for the Sultans in mid-field, and he was instrumental in setting up the opening goal, weaving his way to the edge of the circle before splitting the defence with a precise pass to Shakeel Abbasi, who directed the ball home.

But the Warriors came back strongly in the second half, with the tireless Shivendra Singh outrunning his markers and creating plenty of trouble for the Sultans. Weaving combinations with Stanley Fernandes and Sandeep Antil, Shivendra put the pressure right back on the Sultans, and it was a matter of time before the fort was breached. Imran Warsi’s powerful scoop off a penalty corner in the 54th minute left the entire defence standing.

Having equalised, the Warriors stepped up the pressure and nearly got the lead a few moments later, but striker Hemant Gethe missed with an open goal in front.

But the Sultans, to their credit, did not crumble. A counter-attack saw Abbasi take a crack at the goal, but goal-keeper Adrian D’Souza effected a brilliant left-handed save.

The match seemed to be poised for a draw, but then Warriors’ defender Gurbaj Singh undid all the good work with a dangerous clear. Under no pressure in the ‘D’, Gurbaj took a wild swing and sent the ball for a ‘six’. Custodian Adrian saved the first shot, but could do nothing as Abbasi tapped the ball into the goal off a goalmouth scramble.

Result:
Hyderabad Sultans 2 (Shakeel Abbasi 30th, 65th) bt Maratha Warriors 1 (Imran Warsi 54th)