Dabang Mumbai Beat UP Wizards 2-1 In HIL
06 February, Lucknow
Dabang Mumbai registered their second consecutive win after a series of losses after defeating Uttar Pradesh Wizards 2-1 in the 19th match of the fourth Coal India Hockey India League (HIL) here tonight.
Fresh from their stunning win in their last game, the visitors started their campaign on an attacking note which soon yielded results through a stunning field goal from Johan Bjorkman in the 8th minute giving the visitors an early lead of 2-0 over Wizards.
Wizards, who have so far lost all their home games, came back strongly after this early jolt with a series of well-planned attacks but David Harte made no mistakes in foiling all attempts from the hosts to score.
The hosts kept pressing hard and were rewarded with a penalty corner in the 14th minute, which was duly converted by Argentine Gonzalo Peillat, helping Wizards earn a much needed goal in the match.
The Wizards now trailed Dabang Mumbai by a goal with the score board reading 1-2 in the visitors favour.
The second quarter saw some spectacular moves from the forwards of both the teams but some extremely crucial saves from the goal keepers at both the ends ensure that the first half got over with the score board remaining unchanged at 1-2 in the favour of Mumbai.
The second half began with the visitors pressing hard to capitalise on their lead, but some brilliant interceptions from the Wizards defensive line coupled with some outstanding saves from PR Sreejesh foiled all attempts from the visitors to score.
Dabang Mumbai today showcased top class defence as some strong attacks from the hosts were successfully defended by the visitors. The rest of the match saw a lot of close chances but the goal keepers at both ends were in their top form denying either sides of a goal.
This is the fourth consecutive loss for the Uttar Pradesh Wizards on their home turf.
With this win, Dabang Mumbai now have 14 points in their kitty from six matches, and are currently placed at the bottom of the HIL points tally.