Kalinga Lancers vs Delhi Waveriders (FT: 1-0) live commentary, HIL 2017 match updates

IT IS OVER and Kalinga Lancers have won the match.

Penalty corner for Delhi Waveriders and Rupinder Pal Singh almost scores.

Quarter 4 There are 7 minutes remaining in the match.

Kalinga Lancers have struck late in this match and there lead is deserved.

GOOOOOOOALLLLLL Kalinga Lancers score through Gurjinder. BRILLIANT. They deserve it

Kalinga Lancers have a penalty corner here.

Quarter 4 is underway and we still do not have a goal here.

The majority is possession is still with Kalinga Lancers here.

Delhi Waveriders have a penalty corner here.

Quarter 3 It is still goalless in the Bhubaneshwar but the game is cracking and in full flow.

Quarter 2 is coming to an end here and we are still goalless in Bhubaneshwar

Kalinga Lancers are pushing hard for a goal here.

Kalinga Lancers ALMOST score there.

Uthappa weaving his way through a couple of defenders but the final ball is not good enough. Delhi Waveriders breathe a sigh of relief.

Rupinder with a ferocious shot but Dawson blocks it really well. This is stunning defending from the Kalinga Lancers

Delhi get a penalty corner here.

Quarter 2 Delhi Waveriders attack through Mandeep Singh but lack of coordination sees the ball go out. Delhi are stringing a few passes together and trying to breach the circle but have not made any substantial effort on goal yet.

Quarter 2 is underway here and the game is pretty end to end at the moment

Quarter 1 Kalinga Lancers have been relentless in attack but Rupinder Pal Singh has stood tall in defence for Delhi.

Quarter 1 This is turning out to be an interesting match and both teams are attacking really well.

Quarter 1 is underway and Kalinga Lancers have possession of the ball now. Delhi get it back with Rupinder Pal Singh and he tries to play a long pass.

We are ready to go here in Bhubaneshwar!!!

Squads

DELHI WAVERIDERS

Forwards: Iain Levers, Mandeep Antil, Talwinder Singh, Parvinder Singh, Prabhdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Pradhan Sommanna, Simon Child

Midfielders: Benjamin Stanzl, Santa Singh, Surender Singh, Harjeet Singh

Defenders: Manuel Brunet, Tristan White, Vickram Kanth, Rupinder Pal Singh, Justin Reid-Ross, Austin Smith

Goalkeepers: Vincent Vanasch

KALINGA LANCERS

Forwards: Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Malak Singh, SK Uthappa, Dharamvir Singh, Glenn Turner

Midfielders: Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Billy Bakker, Tom Craig, Adam Dixon, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Devinder Walmiki, Moritz Fuerste

Defenders: Pardeep Mor, Matthew Dawson, Anand Lakra, Gurijinder Singh, Dipsan Tirkey, Aran Zalewski, Amit Rohidas

Goalkeepers: Abhinav Kumar Pandey, Andrew Charter

Kalinga Lancers vs Delhi Waveriders Live Match Information

Time: 19:00 IST

Venue: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar

Kalinga Lancers, the runners-up of the previous edition of Hockey India League (HIL), will be aiming to do one better as they kickstart their campaign today against winners of the 2014 edition of the tournament, the Delhi Waveriders in Bhubaneswar. The inaugural match of HIL 2017 between Ranchi Rays and Dabang Mumbai saw an amazing ending with the teams scripting a 3-3 draw in a nerve-gripping thriller at the Mahindra Hockey Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

Delhi Waveriders look in good shape ahead of the fifth edition of the Hockey India League (HIL), and coach Cedric D’Souza is confident to strike the right balance in the side. Cedric D’Souza who oversaw a seven-day camp prior to the tournament said in an interview, “There have been quite some changes due to the non-availability of players. That’s why we had to go the reserve pool.

"We have taken the best available to make our team as strong as possible. Now is the time to deliver on the pitch,” he said. Drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh has been trusted with the captain’s armband. Rupinder along with New Zealand striker Simon Child are the long-serving members of the side.Harjeet Singh along with Mandeep Singh and goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya (who were all part of the junior World Cup winning team) will provide depth to the Waveriders squad.

The squad also comprises South African Austin Smith, Australian Tristan White and Belgian goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch.

Kalinga Lancers which is led by German hockey star Moritz Furste has added more experience to the squad by recruiting Dutch midfielder Billy Bakker and Australian striker Tom Craig.

“Possibly we are a little bit better because we have got current internationals in Bakker and Craig. So that gives us some strike power up front. The Indian players have improved over 12 months. Davinder Walmiki and S.K. Uthappa had a good Olympics and they showed some really good signs. Dipsan Tirkey, at the back, has also some good experience,” said Lancers’ coach Mark Hager.

Match prediction

The match is expected to be really tight and Delhi Waveriders, given the compactness of their defence, are going to rely on counter attacks. Their side has been a little depleted as well and that means the Waveriders will be looking to make the most of the penalty corners, where Rupinder Pal Singh is going to be key.

On the other hand, the Kalinga Lancers, who will be playing at home would be looking to take the game to the opposition through Tom Craig and Moritz Furste.Given the kind of prowess possessed by Delhi on the penalty corner, Lancers’ keeper Vincent Vanasch is going to play a key role in determining the outcome of the match. Should he keep Rupinder Pal Singh at bay, the home side could come out on top.

Verdict: Kalinga Lancers 3-1 Delhi Waveriders

Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's coverage of Hockey India League 2017