HIL: Middleton helps Ranchi beat Mumbai

MUMBAI: Dabang Mumbai were the underdogs in their Hockey India League opener against Punjab Warriors. Yet they managed a thrilling 3-3 draw. As a result, expectations ran high when they took on the other debutants of the league, Ranchi Rays, at the MHA-Mahindra Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors were under pressure after losing their opener to Kalinga Lancers in Bhubaneswar a couple of days ago.They needed to shore things up in the defence and did that with some conviction, overcoming Mumbai 2-1.
England midfielder Barry Middleton did the star turn for Ranchi, scoring both goals in a span of four minutes.
It was Mumbai who went ahead in the 39th minute through Tom Boon who made the most of a brilliant cross from Nick Catlin. However, Mumbai's joy was short-lived as Ranchi came roaring back through Middleton, who merely had to tap the ball into the goal after a melee in the striking circle the very next minute. Middleton was at it again in the dying seconds of the third quarter when his reverse hit beat the Mumbai defence.
Mumbai have two points from two games and have only three days to regroup before they meet the Rays once again in Ranchi on January 28.