JOIN US High-flying Delhi Waveriders continued their unbeaten run in the inaugural Hockey India League as they thrashed Punjab Warriors 3-0 in a round-robin match thereby ensuring a place in the semifinals.
Waveriders scored through Akashdeep Singh (14th), Kiwi Andrew Hayward (52nd) and Simon Child (70th) to consolidate their position at the top of the league standings with 32 points from seven matches.
Warriors continue to occupy the third spot with 21 points from eight games, behind second-placed Ranchi Rhinos (27).
However, Waveriders surged when Akashdeep scored with a stunning reverse hit after beating a couple of Punjab defenders inside the circle.
Warriors got a golden opportunity to equalise in the 23rd minute but an unmarked SV Sunil shot wide after he was fed from the right flank by a beautiful one-two from Jamie Dwyer and Robert Hammond.
The opportunistic Waveriders took a 2-0 lead when Hayward converted the hosts’ second penalty corner in the 52nd minute. Thereafter, Waveriders controlled the game as Warriors found it difficult to gain possessio.
Child scored the third goal for Waveriders pushing the ball in an open goal in the final minute of the match to add to Punjab’s agony.