The last league match of Hockey India league's second season on Wednesday from the outset was a competition for top position in the standings with Jaypee Punjab Warriors (JPW) playing against Ranchi Rhinos (RR) at Ranchi's Astroturf stadium and JPW defeated RR by 3-2 goals to go top of the points table.
Punjab have 40 points while Delhi Waveriders are second with 39 points, followed by Uttar Pradesh Wizards (28 points) and Ranchi Rhinos (26 points). In the semifinals on Saturday, Punjab will face Ranchi while Delhi will take on UP at this stadium.
JPW's Shivender Singh earned the first penalty corner for his team in the eighth minute of the first quarter but Sandeep Singh's strike was wayward. The next minute was unlucky for both the contenders as Ashley Jackson from Rhinos and Shivender of behalf of Warriors got green card simultaneously.
Amon Mirash Tirkey hit the legs of a defender in the circle to earn first short corner for RR and captain Moritz Furste with the help of his team mate Justin Reid Ross scored the first goal of the match from it, by hitting to the right corner of the net. later, RR's Birendra lakra made a good goal-line save a minute before the end of the first quarter to ensure that his team stays in the lead.
Spectators were few but the cheering sound was more compared to the previous matches played here. The 'worried' expression was clearly visible in coaches of the teams Barry Dancer (JPW) and Gregg Clark (RR).
As soon as the second quarter began, visitors made several raids inside the hosts' circle and earned penalty corner and this time veteran drag-flicker Sandeep was right target and helped his team equalise in the 21st minute. Nine minutes later, Australian Kieran Govers made it 2-1 for Punjab of a penalty corner earned by Argentine striker Agustin Mazzilli.
Trailing 1-2, Rhinos English drag flick expert Jackson, who was out from the last four matches due to ankle injury, lifted his team with a scorching flick in the 40th minute of the game.
However, the Warriors continue to pressurise the hosts further and a nice run by skipper Jamie Dwyer ended by earning a penalty corner which was converted by Sandeep in this match in the 52nd minute.
With this brace, Sandeep leapfrogged Gonzalo Peillat (seven goals) as the leading goal-scorers of the HIl with nine goals. In the fourth quarter RR Captain Moritz and player Rob together marked their team's third Penalty Corner and were awarded Yellow Card in the same minute.