Dabang Mumbai News

Bhubaneswar, February 1, 2014:  Debutants Kalinga Lancers registered their maiden win in the Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) 2014, beating Dabur Mumbai Magicians 2-1 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar today.

In the match between the two bottom -placed teams of the league so far, the Lancers dished out a much superior display than the Magicians, who returned with the wooden-spoon from the inaugural HHIL last year.

The Lancers controlled the match throughout the entire 70 minutes and enjoyed the ball possession.

The hosts created more scoring opportunities as the Mumbai outfit mostly played catch-up hockey throughout the entire 70 minutes.

The Lancers dominance can be ascertained from the fact that they earned as many as five penalty corners in the match as against their rival’s two.

The Lancers scored two field goals in the first two quarters of the match to go into the breather with a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Argentine Lucas Villa broke the deadlock in the eight minute before Australian Aron Zalewsk sounded the board in the 27th minute through another field effort to send the home spectators into frenzy.
Dabur Mumbai Magicians, however, pulled one back just four minutes into the second half, courtesy a penalty stroke which was perfectly converted by Glenn Turner  (39th minute)

Despite the victory, Kalinga Lancers coach Terry Walsh would be worried about his team’s numerous missed chances today.

Missed chances were the order of the day for the Lancers. In the last 10 minutes of the game, the home team earned three penalty corners, out of which two came in succession, but they failed to convert a single chance.

The Mumbai side had a golden chance to salvage a draw when they earned a penalty corner just two minutes from the hooter but Gurjinder Singh’s straight flick was padded away by an alert Lancers custodian –.

After two big losses, the win enabled Kalinga Lancers to open their account in the tournament with five points from three games, while Dahur Mumbai Magicians have slipped to the bottom of the table with just three points from as many matches.

The Kalinga Lancers will play last year’s runners-up Delhi Waveriders in their next match here tomorrow, while Dabur Mumbai Magicians will travel to Ranchi to face defending champions Ranchi Rhinos on February 4.

Hero Goal of the match winner – Aron Zalewski

YES Bank Garv Award winner – Lucas Vila

Man of the Match – Harjot Simgh

Speaking on the performance by the team Coach Terry Walsh, Kalinga Lancers said “winning of course is exiting and bagging the 5 points is a satisfying result in itself. The team is morally up after this match and am sure all the boys will try to improve and make winning as a habit. Extremely happy with the crowd backing the team today”

Speaking on the team’s performance, Coach, MK Kaushik, Dabur Mumbai Magicians  said “Kalinga Lancers is a wonderful team and today was their day and they were successful in capitalizing all the opportunities which they converted brilliantly. They even had the home crowd behind them which was an advantage for them. Each game teaches us a lesson and this game even has given us a few lessons to learn”.