JOIN USSher-e-Punjab enter semis
Table-toppers Sher-e-Punjab notched up a clinical 4-2 victory over Chennai Cheetahs to advance to the semifinals of the World Series Hockey here on Sunday.
Playing their 12th league match here at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Bikramjit Singh converted Punjab’s second penalty corner in the 12th minute to equalise 1-1 after the hosts drew the first blood in the sixth minute.
International Adam Sinclair came up with a peach of a goal utilising a tailor-made cross by Vikram Pillay to put the hosts ahead. In the second half, Imran Warsi converted Cheetah’s first of the three penalty corners and in the 21st minute Harpreet Singh neutralised the score 2-2. In the 43rd minute, Australian Mathew Hotchkis of Punjab increased the tally to 3-2 and substitute Gagan Ajit Singh made it 4-2 during the fag end of the match.
With three more matches to go in the league phase, Cheetahs need to win at least two of their matches to progress to the semifinal as they are placed in the fourth spot with 16 points.
Cheetahs have lost five matches at home and won as many ties besides a drawn match, while Sher-e-Punjab have won eight of their 12 matches, drew one and lost three to tally 25 points and have scored 38 goals and yielded 25.
The high-pressure match also tested the nerves of the players and at times umpires had to intervene to calm the rival players.
In fact, the goal by Aussie Mathew Hotchkis was contested by Cheetah’s star Imran Warsi and captain Brent Livermore, and umpire Satinder Kumar Sharma had to seek third umpires intervention. VS Vinaya passed from almost on the left line and Mathew was swift in deflecting the ball in to the netting.
Badshahs stay alive
In Bhopal, Mohammed Sahir Khan hit the decisive goal in the fourth quarter as Bhopal Badshahs pipped Mumbai Marines 2-1 to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
Before this match, Bhopal (17) were in the sixth position but three points from this win pushed them to fourth position, ahead of Pune Strykers (15) and Cheetahs (16).
Affan Yousuf (12th) put Bhopal with a fierce shot to find the net. Ajmer Singh almost messed up Mumbai’s penalty corner when he fumbled while stopping the ball but an alert Sandeep Michael (45th) deflected a wayward going shot into the goal post to bring the match on even terms. Khan deflected superbly a shot off penalty corner to script his team’s win.