By IANS
Chandigarh : Former champions Bangalore Hi-Fliers rallied from being 0-2 down to register a thrilling win over local favourites Chandigarh Dynamos 3-2 in the fourth Premier Hockey League (PHL) here Tuesday.
After three matches each, Bangalore have five points while Chandigarh Dynamos remain on six.
Bangalore Hi-Fliers’ South Korean import You Hyo-sik was declared man of the match.
After surviving two strong raids by Bangalore, the Chandigarh side struck twice in three minutes, with drag flicker Sandeep Singh netting two stunning goals from two short corners in the 10th and 12th minutes.
In the 23rd minute, Bangalore pulled one back with speedy striker Sandeep Michael earning the team’s second short corner. Chandigarh goalkeeper Baljit Singh blocked Len Aiyappa’s resultant low drag flick but Hyo-sik converted the rebound.
After the first two quarters, Bangalore opened up the game. Despite an element of risk involved, they went all out in the attack and stretched the Chandigarh defence.
Bimal Lakra was outstanding in the midfield and got good support from Vikramkanth and Vinay as they completely dominated the midfield and fed the forwards regularly.
The Bangalore team also made the best use of the speed and skills of Hyo-sik, who was the livewire of the team with his speedy runs.
Bangalore scored the equaliser in the 37th minute as they capitalised on a quick move on the right flank.
From the midfield, Vinay put Arjun in possession with a fast pass and the former skipper gave it to Michael.
Michael darted into the middle, cut into the circle and gave a short pass to Tushar Khandekar on the right. With rival custodian Baljit Singh advancing, Tushar gave it to Hyo-sik who made no mistake in tapping the ball into the goal.
Bangalore continued to exert the pressure on the Chandigarh goal and forced their fourth and last short corner in the 67th minute to seal the fate of the match.
Tushar pushed the ball and Vikramkanth set it up for drag flicker Len Aiyappa. But Singh once again blocked Aiyappa’s low flick and this time Cheyanna, a junior Indian camper, slotted home to earn the match-winner for Bangalore Hi-Fliers.