At home, Punjab Warriors have it easy

Indervir Grewal

Tribune News Service

Mohali, January 25

Jamie Dwyer's twin strikes in two minutes helped Punjab Warriors beat Kalinga Lancers 4-2 and register their first win in the Hockey India League here today.

The Australian's brace — in the 27th and 28th minutes — helped the home team equalise and then take the lead against the defensive Kalinga Lancers. Lalit Upadhyay had put the visitors ahead in the 8th minute. 

The Warriors got five penalty corners, out of which Sandeep Singh converted one in the 38th minute. Dharamvir Singh scored the fourth goal in the 50th minute before Gurjinder Singh pulled one back for the Lancers with a powerful drag-flick in the 52nd minute. 

Punjab Warriors started with the confidence of a home team — though they would have hoped for a larger home support as they played in front of an almost empty stadium. They attacked in numbers and pushed the visitors back. But their hurried attacks were easily dealt with by the composed Lancers' defence. 

As time passed, the Lancers regained some control and even looked dangerous going forward. But their first big chance came in the 8th minute after a Punjab Warriors mistake. Captain Mark Knowles, who had earlier executed his trademark long aerial ball, fluffed his effort this time and the ball landed at the feet of Lancers' Aron Zalewski. 

A swift two-pass move — to the right and then centre — found an unmarked Upadhyay with the ball at the top of the circle. His awkwardly taken reverse-stick shot found the low right corner. The visitors got a few good chances in the next few minutes and looked the more dangerous team throughout the first quarter.

The Warriors came out in the second quarter with a lot more aggression and their attacks were far more effective. At one point there were eight Punjab players in the opposition third. However, poor finishing and brilliant goalkeeping by Harjot Singh helped keep the Lancers' lead intact.

The Warriors got their first penalty corner in the 24th minute, which was not properly stopped. Dwyer's open try after the ball was passed back into the circle went way over the top. 

Three minutes later, the Punjab team finally found the equaliser from their second penalty corner. This time the push was wayward but Rob Hammond improvised and passed to Dwyer on the left. The veteran Australian, who was left unmarked, had no trouble beating the keeper from 10 yards out. 

In the next minute, Dwyer gave the Warriors the lead, firing the ball into the top corner after Harjot made three successive saves.

The goal shifted the momentum in the Warriors' favour and apart from a few chances for the Lancers, the hosts completely dominated the second half.

The situation would have been completely different had Roshan Minz of the Lancers shot into an empty goal after a Gurmail Singh mistake led to a counter when the score read 2-1 in Punjab's favour. Minz would be kicking himself because he had done all the hard work, sending goalkeeper Jaap Stockman the wrong way.