UP Wizards beat Mumbai Magicians 2-0

By Asheem Mukerji

LUCKNOW: Roelant Oltmans heaved a huge sigh of relief as his team UP Wizards bounced back from four consecutive defeats to tame Mumbai Magicians in the Hero Hockey India League here on Saturday.

After a cat-and-mouse game, the two-goal win at the Dhyanchand stadium meant that the Wizards can breathe a little easy with 22 points after nine matches. They are now eight points clear of the Magicians, who bring up the rear with 14 points from 10 games in the five-team league.

The Wizards now play Delhi Waveriders in their final home match on Sunday.

The win was also a sweet revenge for the hosts who were blown away 0-4 by the Magicians in Mumbai five days ago.

The game started on a fast pace, and after some initial probes by both the sides the home team drew first blood in the ninth minute. Pardeep Mor latched on to a faulty clearance to send the ball crashing into the net much to the joy of the crowd side.

After goalless second and third quarters, the Wizards sealed the match when local lad Siddharth Shankar beat Mumbai goalkeeper P Sreejesh with a carpet drive from top of the circle. A poor clearance set up the goal as Alegre took the first shot and Shankar slotted home the rebound.