Talwinder’s goal seals Delhi win over Mumbai

Talwinder Singh struck a field goal in the dying moments of the game to lead Delhi Wave Riders to a thrilling come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Dabang Mumbai in a Hockey India League contest, here on Friday.

The visitors were trailing 2-3 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter of the game when Talwinder came up his decisive strike to seal Delhi’s third win in four games.

Mumbai, which led 2-1 at half-time, suffered their third straight defeat and first at home.

For Delhi, drag-flick expert Rupinder Pal Singh scored the first two goals off penalty corners after Mumbai had stunned them with a superb field effort by top German forward Florian Fuchs early in the first quarter.

Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty stroke to give Mumbai a 3-2 advantage before Talwinder dashed their hopes.

The home team started the proceedings on a speedy note to rip apart the Delhi defence.

But their forwards were off target with Danish Mujtaba shooting straight into the goal-keeper s pads in the fourth minute, while Manpreet Singh was guilty of spurning gilt-edged chances on two occasions.

In between, it was Delhi who took the lead courtesy their first penalty corner when Rupinder beat David Harte under the Mumbai bar with a precision shot.

The joy was short-lived as Mumbai went 2-1 in front by scoring a field goal, which is counted as two under the rules of the tournament, in the 12th minute of the opening quarter.

Top German striker Fuchs, left totally free on top of the D , sounded the board with a shot that beat Delhi custodian Devon Manchester all ends up.

But Mumbai were off target with all three short corners they earned in the first two quarters, with Harmanpreet Singh failing to capitalize on these.

But, he made amends by effecting a goal-line save off a field attempt by Delhi s Mandeep Singh. Had it gone in, the visitors would have taken the lead. However, a sustained spell of pressure by Delhi in the third quarter brought them five penalty corners in close succession and off the third, Rupinder found the mark to level the score.