 |
| The game between Kalinga Lancers and UP Wizards on at Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati |
Bhubaneswar, Feb. 13: They played well, but home team Kalinga Lancers couldn’t snatch victory from Uttar Pradesh Wizards, who won the match 4-3.
The Lancers lost the match and hope to make it in to the semis of the second edition of Hockey India League.
In a must win match for the home team, Kalinga Lancers kept attacking from the very start and created a number of opportunities in the first quarter of the match.
However, the Wizards broke through the defencee of the home team and scored through Nithin Thimmaiah.
The visiting team extended their lead in the first quarter through a penalty corner. Malayalan Gunasekar powered the ball into the net giving the Wizards a 2-0 lead.
Amid cheers from the fans, the home team scored their first goal when Lalit Upadhyay scored a brilliant goal in the second quarter.
The home team showed aggressive play throughout the second quarter and kept on attacking.
But to the disappointment of home fans, they failed to convert the chances into goals.
The third quarter remained goalless as both the teams were not ready to spare an inch to their opponent.
Players of both the team tried hard to score but the opportunities created did not get reflected on the scorecard.
The visiting team even failed to convert a penalty corner earned in the quarter.
The poor defence of the home team again gave way when Nikkin Thimmaiah scored again in the last quarter and the scorecard read 3-1.
But the home team soon pounced back into the match when Gagandeep Singh scored the second goal for Lancers.
The home team made a stunning comeback with only 11 minutes remaining in the last quarter when Gonzalo Peillat pulled an equalizer through a penalty corner.
The home team, however, lost the match when Tushar Khandekar scored the winning fourth goal for the Wizards with only two minutes left for final hooter.
Lancers would take on Ranchi Rhinos in their last home match tomorrow.
Lancers are scheduled to play their last game against Mumbai Magicians in Mumbai on February 16.