BHUBANESWAR 18-Feb-2017
Last year’s runners-up Kalinga Lancers mauled defending champions Jaypee Punjab Warriors 7-0 in their 10th and last league match to seal a berth in the semifinals of the 5th Hockey India League at Chandigarh Hockey Stadium in Chandigarh today. This was fifth win for Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Lancers, who completed their league engagements with 28 points.
On the other hand, the humiliating defeat ended Punjab Warriors’the hopes of defending the title in front of their home crowd. Kalinga Lancers will play their semifinal at Chandigarh on February 25. One of the most consistent teams in the League this season, Kalinga Lancers today scored three field goals and converted one penalty corner.
When the two teams met earlier in the League in Bhubaneswar, Kalinga Lancers enjoyed a narrow 6-5 win against Jaypee Punjab Warriors. Adam Dixon drew first blood in the ninth minute as Kalinga Lancers ended the first quarter with a 2-0 lead.
Leading the Lancers with personal example, German stalwart Moritz Fuerste increased the lead to 3-0, converting his 7th PC of the season in the 24th minute. Lalit Upadhyay further dented Jaypee Punjab Warriors’ hopes of making a comeback in the second half when he improvised an assist from Billy Bakker to extend his team’s lead to 5-0 with an attractive reverse hit.
The Jaypee Punjab Warriors seemed like they had completely lost the plot, their defensive errors left exposed as Kalinga Lancers went on to score yet another field goal in the 39th minute when Dharamvir Singh deflected the ball into the post after a good assist by Malak Singh from within the circle.
Adam Dixon of Kalinga Lancers was awarded with a prize money of Rs 50,000 for scoring the Goal of the Match. His teammate Matthew Dawson won the prize of Rs 25,000 for being the Young Achiever of the Match. The Most Entertaining Player of the Match was awarded to Lalit Upadhyay of Kalinga Lancers that came with a prize money of Rs 25,000. Dharamvir Singh of Kalinga Lancers was declared the Man of the Match and was awarded a prize money of Rs 50,000.
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PHOTO: Action from the HIL match between Kalinga Lancers and Jaypee Punjab Warriors in Chandigarh on Feb 18, 2017.
