Delhi Waveriders failed to make most of the home advantage as they slumped to their first loss going down 1-3 to Jaypee Punjab Warriors in Hockey India league on Friday. The loss continued Delhi's miserable run in the tournament after drawing their previous two games. The loss means Delhi remain bottom of the table with five points while Punjab have taken a commanding lead at the top with 17 points from four games.
Delhi did start very well and kept Punjab on the backfoot for most of the game but for a lapse in concentration for six minutes in the fourth quarter which eventually cost them the game. Simon Child put the defending champions ahead in the third minute of the game after Akashdeep Singh seemed to have scored by chipping the ball beyond an on-rushing Jaap Stockmann but the official word gave the goal to Child who got the final touch.
Punjab finished the half on a high after Malak Singh was in the thick of things. After perfect ball control in the area, his reverse hit went high. The visitors also had a penalty corner appeal with a second left in but the video referral didn't help them. With ten minutes to go, Punjab found the back of the net to equal matters. Winning their second penalty corner of the game, Christopher Ciriello struck neatly to Rassie Pieterse's right giving the South African no chance.
Four minutes later, SV Sunil extended Punjab's lead largely owing to the steal and quick movement of Agustin Mazzilli. The Argentine made most of Delhi's poor passing in their own half to rob them and then put the ball in the area for Sunil to score and throw his stick in celebration. Delhi's misery was complete two minutes later when Affan Yousuf scooped the ball in the back of an open net with the keeper caught in no man's land after Delhi's right flank was exposed. Man of the match Stockmann proved in the game why he was chosen FIH's 2014 goalkeeper of the year making great saves to keep Delhi at the bay throughout.