The 12th match of the CIL Hockey India League saw the home side Dabang Mumbai take on Kalinga Lancers at the Mahindra Hockey Stadium today. The thrilling contest between the two evenly matched sides ended 4-6 in the favour of the visitors with the Dutch international Quirijn Caspers scoring the winner with just 5 minutes left in the match. Florian Fuchs and Gurjant Singh brought the home side on level terms after Gurjinder, Adam Dixon and Lalit Upadhyay gave the visitors 0 – 4 lead in the third quarter.
Both the teams made a cautious start to the 1st quarter of the match, keeping the possession in their half in the first two-three minutes. The Alphas’ first circle penetration came in the 4th minute of the match with Affan Yousuf forcing Charter to make a smart save following a reverse shot from the former. The Lancers’ had their first chance of the match with Adam Dixon forcing David Harte into making a straight forward save.
The Alphas kept the pressure on the Lancers which resulted in a penalty corner for the home side, however, Harmanpreet forced his effort straight at Charter who made a comfortable save.
End of 1st Quarter: Dabang Mumbai 0 – 0 Kalinga Lancers
The visitors started the second quarter on the front foot, pushing the Mumbai defenders on the back foot and penetrating the opposition circle on a few occasions. They were rewarded for all the pressure they put as they won their 1st penalty corner of the match in the 21st minute of the match for a foul on the Australian international Glenn Turner inside the area. It was a well practised short corner from the visitors, as Moritz Fuerste faked his shot and passed it to Gurjinder, who slotted his shot into the back of the net.
21’ GOAL! Dabang Mumbai 0 – 2 Kalinga Lancers, Gurjinder Singh(PC)
Just minutes later, Kalinga Lancers won their 2nd penalty corner of the match for a foot foul inside the Alphas’ area, this time, Adam Dixon making no mistake and scoring from a rebound to give the visitors a 0 – 2 lead with 5 minutes in the second quarter.
25’ GOAL! Dabang Mumbai 0 – 2 Kalinga Lancers, Adam Dixon(PC)
Half-Time: Dabang Mumbai 0 – 2 Kalinga Lancers
The home side committed too many players forward from the start of the 3rd quarter and earned a penalty corner in the 31st minute, their 3rd of the night. However, the Alphas miss trapped the ball and the chance was gone. However, the visitors heaped more misery on the home side as Lalit Upadhyay scored from close range following a great pass from Glenn Turner.
33’ GOAL! Dabang Mumbai 0 – 4 Kalinga Lancers, Lalit Upadhyay(FG)
The home side made a goalkeeper change with David Harte compromising his place for an additional foreign outfield player, youngster Krishan Pathak getting some game time between the posts. Finally, the home side managed to pull one goal back through their most expensive signing of the campaign, Florian Fuchs slotting the ball home from close range to cut the deficit by 2 goals.
41’ GOAL! Dabang Mumbai 2 – 4 Kalinga Lancers, Florian Fuchs(FG)
The Alphas’s top scorer Florian Fuchs showed some brilliant stick skills to trouble the visitor’s defence on a regular basis, with 12 minutes to play, he got passed 3 defenders before rounding the ball to Gurjant Singh, who slotted home from close range to even the match 4-4.
47’ GOAL! Dabang Mumbai 4 – 4 Kalinga Lancers, Gurjant Singh(FG)
However, it was the visitors who had the last laugh, Quirijn Caspers scored the winner with just 5 minutes left on the clock and sent the Lancers through to their 3rd victory of the campaign.
54’ GOAL! Dabang Mumbai 4 – 4 Kalinga Lancers, Quirijn Caspers(FG)
FULL-TIME: Dabang Mumbai 4 – 6 Kalinga Lancers
With this victory, the Lancers go on to the second position on the table behind the leaders Ranchi Rays on 17 points while the Alphas remained on the last spot, still searching for their 1st win of the 2016 CIL HIL. The Alphas will play current leaders Ranchi Rays in their next match on their home turf on 3rd February 2016 while the visitors will host Delhi Waveriders on 5th February 2016 in their next tie.
