Kalinga Lancers returned to winning ways after successive defeats in 5th Hockey India League when they came back from a 0-2 deficit to beat table toppers and home team Dabang Mumbai 4-3 in a nail-biting encounter at the Mahindra Hockey Stadium in Mumbai today. For the winners, their captain Moritz Fuerste converted two penalty corners and Glenn Turner scored a field goal.

This was the third win in five matches for Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Lancers, who inched closer to the semifinals with 15 points in their account. They started their campaign with wins against Delhi Waveriders and Ranchi Rays but suffered defeats in their next two matches against Ranchi Rays and Uttar Pradesh Wizards.

On the other hand, today’s defeat was first in five games for Dabang Mumbai, who earlier won three and drew one. However, notwithstanding the defeat against Lancers, the Mumbai team retained their place at the top of the table with 18 points.

Dabang Mumbai won a penalty stroke after Kalinga Lancers defender Amit Rohidas obstructed Robbert Kemperman in the striking circle. Ace drag flicker and Junior World Cup hero Harmanpreet Singh was trusted with the job and he rarely disappoints. The 21-year-old found the top corner with a splendid strike to fetch his team a 2-0 lead in the 27th minute.

Minutes into the third quarter, Dabang Mumbai conceded a PC through Sander De Wijn in the 32nd minute, and Moritz Fuerste made sure they converted this chance taking the score to 2-1. Kalinga Lancers kept up the pressure and secured another PC in the 33nd minute and this time German Moritz Fuerste brought his team back into the game as he equalized with a perfect dragflick.
The frenetic third quarter saw both the teams trading penalty corners, but both teams failed at making a successful attempt. Glenn Turner, however, found his rhythm again when he put one past David Harte in the 40th minute after a good assist from young Anand Lakra from the right flank. This took Turner’s personal score to six goals this season and earned his team a 4-2 lead. Dabang Mumbai stayed in the hunt though with a splendid goal by Harmanpreet Singh off a rebound when they won a PC in the 43rd minute.

Moritz Fuerste was awarded with a prize money of Rs 50,000 for scoring the Coal India Goal of the Match. Harmanpreet Singh won the prize of Rs 25,000 for being the Hero Young Achiever of the Match. The Airtel Most Entertaining Player of the Match was awarded to Billy Bakker of Kalinga Lancers that came with a prize money of Rs 25,000. Fuerste was declared the Man of the Match and was awarded a prize money of Rs 50,000.
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PHOTO: Players of Kalinga Lancers celebrate their win over Dabang Mumbai in Mumbai on January 31, 2017.