Talwinder Singh emphasised the value of field goals in the Coal India Limited HIL 2016 when he tapped home in the fourth quarter and enabled Delhi Waveriders to from 2-3 down to a 4-3 victory in a fourth-round match at the Mahindra stadium here on Friday. For Dabang Mumbai it was its third defeat in a row, the first in front of home fans.
Mumbai won a penalty corner after Talwinder’s strike and 30 seconds to go for the hooter. In a sign of things to come in the tournament, the home team risked a loss by trying for a field gaol instead of the corner. Florian Fuchs’ attempt at target, however, was foiled by courageous defending by the visitors, who walked away with a hard-earned win.
Earlier Fuchs had fired home a delightful field goal in the first half, while captain Matthew Swann covered lots of ground as he switched from defence to playmaking to offence. Despite their efforts Mumbai still allowed the match to slip away from its hands.
Fuchs’ goal was named ‘best goal’ and Swann picked up the ‘Man of Match’ award.
The home team used the ball more effectively after gaining possession at the start. With the setting sun lighting up the players, Waveriders were at the receiving end of attacks from both flanks before taking the lead with a fifth minute penalty corner conversion. Rupinderpal Singh powered the ball in first time, picking his spot.
Fuchs then struck with his first field goal for DM in a home match. Devon Manchester under the bar moved in anticipation but was beaten by the pace behind the power-packed shot from the German. The home side moved from a goal down to 2-1 ahead at half-time.
Both teams settled down in the second quarter, as the defenders held sway to cut off the final pass into the box. Roshan Minz gave Waveriders a scare with a timely run wide on the right to trap a forward pass from Mujtaba, turned around his marker and shot off a reverse-hit. The ball was struck well, but directed wide off the far post.
Rupinder then dragged in his second penalty corner goal, the fourth earned by the aggressive Delhi team. The game continued at a blistering pace under the floodlights, cool air drifting across the turf during the third quarter.
The hosts were able to block direct routes to goal, but conceding penalty corners. The visitors won two referrals.
The punishing pace appeared to take a toll on the home team, as the rivals in green went in quest of the match-winner.
However, it was the goalkeeper at the other end who was beaten when Harmanpreet converted a stroke to make it 3-2. Mumbai will now take on Kalinga Lancers two days later while Waveriders move to the next stop in the league, its reputation intact as two-time finalist.
The result: Delhi Waveriders 4 (Rupinderpal Singh 2 PCs, Talwinder Singh 2FG) bt Dabang Mumbai 3 (Florian Fuchs 2FG, Harmanpreet Singh-pen).
