Troy scores Mumbai Marines’ winner

Troy Sutherland’s quick thinking took Mumbai Marines to a 1-0 win over Bhopal Badshahs in the Bridgestone World Series Hockey at MHA Mahindra stadium here on Friday.

Joga Singh, scorer of three fluent field goals in an earlier game, was not allowed a clear look at goal by the visiting defence. Nine penalty corners were forced (six by Bhopal, three by Mumbai), no goals resulted.

Badshahs were more effective on the ball in the first quarter, Pakistani playmaker Waseem Ahmed showing off his positional skills and ball control in the rival half, won a penalty corner, set up another goalworthy move with a scoop over a perplexed defender.

No goals were scored as both sides, wiser after the first-match experience, opted for the waiting game. Moves were deliberate and frenetic action was missing.

Joga’s stick skills and Troy’s opportunism fetched Mumbai the only goal in the 25th minute, the former scooping over his marker on a diagonal run from the left inside position, then setting up his teammate from Australia with a quick pass. Troy cashed in on the advantage rule, when the ball rolled off a defender’s legs and sounded the boards with a snap shot on the turn.

Aashish Ballal was in charge of Mumbai Marines as Australian coach Andrew Meredith had gone home to fulfil a prior commitment.

Goalkeepers Adrian and Baljit tackled penalty corners without breaking into a sweat. Mumbai opted for the indirect approach, relaying the ball to the pusher after a dummy by penalty-corner specialist Devender Walmiki.

A stray ball flying off a defender’s stick hurt Waseem, forcing him to return with a bandaged head. Walmiki, playing on home turf, went solo in the third quarter, weaving his way into the circle but his backhander did not trouble Baljit.

Walmiki produced a flicker of excitement with a quick relay around the right post. Hariprasad darted forward in anticipation and tried a deflection, the ball flew wide. Players with the ball tried to retain possession during long runs into space, pace was slow in contrast to the non-stop action a day earlier.

The result: Mumbai Marines 1 (Troy Sutherland) bt Bhopal Badshahs.