Uttar Pradesh Wizards registered their first win in the 5th edition of the Hockey India League, decimating last year’s runners-up and local favourites Kalinga Lancers 10-0 through five field goals here at Kalinga Stadium Hockey Complex today. Ramandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh scored a brace each, while Agustin Mazzilli contributed one.

This was the biggest margin of victory by any side in the ongoing edition of the tournament, bettering the Dabang Mumbai’s 10-4 win over defending champions Jaypee Punjab Warriors. Today’s stunning win fetched Wizards five points and increased their tally to six from two games.

On the other hand, today’s humiliating defeat was the second in four matches for Kalinga Lancer, who had suffered their first one (2-7) at the hands of `Ranchi Rays three days ago. The back-to-back defeats have dented the fortunes of the Lancers, who had started their campaign with back-to-back wins. They now have 10 points from four matches.

Wizards started today’s match on a whirlwind note, scoring twice in the first quarter. They took the lead in the very first minute through a field goal by Mazzilli, whose reverse hit bulged left corner of the net (2-0). Wizard forwards literally toyed with the Lancers’ defense, launching a series of attacks from all sides.

Wizards made the score line 4-0 with a field goal by Ramandeep, who sounded the board in the fourth minute with a reverse hit from the left side of the striking zone. The India forward scored the second goal in the 23rd minute capitalizing on the superb spadework done by Seve Van Ass.

Akashdeep was in a rampaging mood today and netted his two goals in the 27th and 48th minutes. He made the score-line 8-0, easily tapping home a fine pass by Edward Ockenden. Akashdeep completed his brace, catching the Lancers’ defense completely off guard.

The victory margin for the Wizards would have been much bigger had they not squanders two penalty corners and as many field goals. Their first penalty corner went abegging in the 10th minute as the ball could not be stopped after push-in. The second penalty corner, which was taken by their captain V R Raghunath in the 36th minute was brilliantly saved by Lancers goalkeeper Andrew Charter.

Charter also denied Wizards a field goal in the 16th minute. Akashdeep Singh ran down the middle, dodging past two opponents before giving a nice pass to Ramandeep. But before the latter could attempt a hit, Charter made a nice tackle and cleared the ball.

Lancers were completely off-colour today and even failed to earn a single penalty corner. They had one chance to reduce the margin in the 46th minute. But Tom Craig’s hit was palmed away by Wizards goalkeeper P R Sreejesh.

Akashdeep and Ramandeep grabbed the prizes as Man of the Match and Most Entertaining Player of the Match respectively, while the prize for the Goal of the Match went to Agustin Mazzilli. Lancers found some consolation as their local boy Anand Lakra was adjudged the Young Achiever of the match.
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PHOTO: Akashdeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh of Uttar Pradesh Wizards exult after their stunning win over Kalinga Lancers in Bhubaneswar on January 29, 2017.