By IANS
Chandigarh : Defending champions Orissa Steelers became the last team to qualify for the semi-finals, handing out a 2-0 defeat to Sher-e-Jallandhar in the last league match of the Premier Hockey League (PHL) at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here Thursday.
Steelers, who needed a 2-0 margin to avoid table toppers Chandigarh Dynamos in the semi-finals, will now meet Bangalore Lions while Hyderabad Sultans, who lies on the fourth spot on the points table on goal difference, will take on local favourites Dynamos Saturday.
Shers needed a four-goal margin victory in this match to make it to last four stage of the tournament and they started on an attacking note, but that lasted only for a few minutes.
Steelers, on the other hand, played to a specific plan and were determined not to concede any goal with Dilip Tirkey and Kim Chul thwarting the rival moves.
Steelers shot ahead through a stunning field goal by Ignace Tirkey in the 22nd minute. From then onwards, Steelers were in full control of the match and went into a defensive mode.
However, in the 44th minute, they doubled their lead through Birendra Lakra.
In the later half of the match, Shers earned two penalty corners but both of them went abegging with Rupinder Pal and Kanwalpreet failing to find the goal.
Birender Lakra was declared man of the match.