Uttar Pradesh Wizards started off the first quarter with
ball in their possession as they made swift attacks at the goal. Despite the
strong defence that the home team had on the field, Dabang Mumbai managed to
find a gap when Vikas Pillay sneaked in a field goal as early as in the eighth
minute, handing his team a required lead of 1-0 over the Wizards. The visiting
team again had a chance of scoring when they were awarded a penalty corner but
due to the tight defence line-up of Uttar Pradesh Wizards, Mumbai failed to
materialize the chance as first quarter closed with scores at 1-0, with Mumbai
in the lead.
The hosts came out a lot more attacking in the second
quarter and did not allow the opposite team to avail any further chances of
scoring while their strikers kept taking frequent shots at the goal. Their
efforts bore fruit in the 29th minute when Nithin Thimmaiah scored a field goal
to level the score 1-1 just few minutes before the first half of the game came
to an end. Dabang Mumbai tried to keep the ball in their possession but the
Wizards made sure they got no such opportunity.
With maximum ball possession in the third quarter, Uttar
Pradesh Wizards once again displayed an attacking game but could not reach for
the nets. The Wizards had a penalty corner but due to the lack of player
coordination they could not make use of the chance availed. Dabang Mumbai once
again took the lead when Glenn Turner in the 44th minute gently touched the
ball as it swung past the strong guards of PR Sreejesh to touch the mesh. The
scoreboard showed a score of 2-1 with Dabang Mumbai ahead of the home team.
Dabang Mumbai tried to restrict Uttar Pradesh Wizards from
scoring further in the last quarter as they solidified their defence line up
for the same. This could not stop UP Wizards from looking out for prospects to
score as Harjeet Singh found a break in the defence and sliced-in a beautiful
field goal to equal the score at 2-2. In the dying moments of the game Nikkin
Thimmaiah scored a stupendous field goal, the decider for this match as Uttar
Pradesh Wizards clinched win in the last moments and defeated Dabang Mumbai
3-2.
Speaking on the match, Head Coach of Dabang Mumbai, Valentin
Altenburg said, “It was not just bad luck. Our defence went loose in the
last quarter as we conceded goals and eventually lost. We started off well but
failed to finish in the game.”
Remarking on the loss, Captain of Dabang Mumbai, Arjun
Halappa said, “It was a close game but due to the defence in the last
quarter we lost. We played good as a team but the final result is very
disappointing.”
Ecstatic on the win, Coach of Uttar Pradesh Wizards, Roelant
Oltmans said, “Due to some physical problems in the team for last
two-three days we did not play up to the mark today but with the determination
to win, we were able to make a comeback in the last quarter and win the game.
Dabang Mumbai is a good team and lost by a small margin. We still need to
improve in certain areas. For the semi finals, Delhi Waveriders, Jaypee Punjab
Warriors and Ranchi Rays are really good teams and we need to push ourselves
before the next phase of League begins.”
Post bagging the Hero Goal of the Match award, Harjeet Singh
of Uttar Pradesh Wizards said, “I am very happy to be a part of the team
and play with so many experienced players. It helps us to learn a lot. The
first and second quarter of today’s game were little dull but we made a good
comeback in the last two quarters of the game.”
Hero Goal of the Match – Harjeet Singh
Man of the Match – V R Raghunath
HIL Press release
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