Mumbai, Punjab play out exciting draw
24 Jan 2015 11:26 PM GMT
Hosts Dabang Mumbai and last year’s runners-up Punjab Warriors played out an exciting 3-3 draw in their opening game of Hockey India League at the Mahindra Stadium on Friday. The first goal was scored in the eighth minute by junior India international Harmanpreet Singh when Mumbai earned the first of three short corners in the first 15-minute period. The award came following an obstruction by Malak Singh who tripped ex-India player Arjun Halappa just inside the 25 yard line on the right and Harmanpreet’s drag-flick beat Dutch great Jaap Stockman under the Punjab bar hands down.
Towards the end of the second quarter, Stockmann brought off a brilliant save to foil Boon’s stiff close ranger off a pass from Turner on the right. Crossing over, Punjab found the equaliser in the 33rd minute of the game when Jamie Dwyer took advantage of a weak clearance on the left and beat Mumbai goalie Harte with a rising shot to the far post. Punjab then held sway with repeated forays into the Mumbai area but it was the home team that took the lead again against the run of play through India international Chinglensana Singh whose top of circle shot brooked no stopping. Punjab earned the first of their two penalty corners very late in the match and they scored off the second, taken by Australian Christopher Ciriello. Sandeep made amends by coming off the bench to find the mark to the right of Harte to make it 2-2 four minutes before the final hooter.
Towards the end of the second quarter, Stockmann brought off a brilliant save to foil Boon’s stiff close ranger off a pass from Turner on the right. Crossing over, Punjab found the equaliser in the 33rd minute of the game when Jamie Dwyer took advantage of a weak clearance on the left and beat Mumbai goalie Harte with a rising shot to the far post. Punjab then held sway with repeated forays into the Mumbai area but it was the home team that took the lead again against the run of play through India international Chinglensana Singh whose top of circle shot brooked no stopping. Punjab earned the first of their two penalty corners very late in the match and they scored off the second, taken by Australian Christopher Ciriello. Sandeep made amends by coming off the bench to find the mark to the right of Harte to make it 2-2 four minutes before the final hooter.
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