Sport

Jugraj slams in the winner

S. Thyagarajan

MOMENTS OF JOY: Jugraj Singh of Chandigarh Dynamos celebrates after scoring against Hyderabad Sultans. — Photo: R. Ragu

Chennai: Jugraj Singh slammed in the match winner seconds before the hooter to provide full points for Chandigarh Dynamos 3-2 against Hyderabad Sultans in the Premier Hockey League on Friday at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium.

It was a lively encounter that kept the goodly crowd on the edge almost throughout. This was largely on account of the commendable measure of fortitude displayed by Hyderabad Sultans who recovered to cover a 0-2 gap by the time the match meandered into the fourth quarter.

But in the final minutes when tension became clear with the players on both sides making voluble protests for every decision of the umpires, the hockey on view became an eyesore.

Fast and crisp

Throughout the exchanges were fast and crisp. If the Dynamos looked a bit more fluent, this was due to the splendid mid-field play by the Dutch star, Bomas Balder. The attack too functioned with a touch of efficiency even though Prabhjot Singh frittered away a few easy chances. However, he figured well in the goal that put Dynamos ahead.

A good bout of passing between Balder and Prabhjot culminated in the former providing an astute forward pass to which Deepak Thakur provided the finishing touches on the run. Pepped up by this turn, the Dynamos intensified the pressure.

When Jugraj Singh slotted a penalty corner, veering to the left to beat goal-keeper Devesh Chauhan, it looked as though it would be a cake walk for the Dynamos.

But the Sultans team was determined not to take a reverse lying down. There were fierce moves prompted by pivot Vikram Pillay and wing half Sardara Singh. In the attack, the Pakistani duo, Shakeel Abbasi and Tariq Aziz spelt danger. Equally threatening was the gangling Didar Singh.

As the match entered the third quarter, there were enough indications of Sultans coming up with something interesting. And so it turned out when Tariq Aziz flicked in a rebound off goalkeeper Baljit Singh's pads from a penalty corner drive by Didar Singh.

The Sultans then smelt that the equaliser was there for the asking. The series of moves from the Sultans forced the Dynamos defence to be on the defensive, and a couple of penalty corners heightened the activity near the goal. Baljit Singh did affect a lovely save off Didar, but the latter succeeded in netting the equaliser.

Frayed tempers

Tempers were frayed and umpires became victims of constant inquisition by the players. The IHF warning seems to have had little effect on the players.

A protest by Vikram Pillay earned him a yellow from umpire Javed Sheikh. Even Jugraj remonstrated repeatedly. In the final minute however, Jugraj produced an immaculate shot to hoist the winner.

Chandigarh Dynamos has seven points from six games while Sultans remain at five from the same number of matches.

Saturday is a rest day.

The result: Chandigarh Dynamos 3 (Deepak Thakur, Jugraj 2) beat Hyderabad Sultans 2 (Tariq Aziz, Didar Singh). MOM: Bomans Balder.

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