Kalinga lancers eked out a close 6-5 win over Jaypee Punjab Warriors, their first-ever victory against the defending champions, to jump to the top of the standings in the fifth edition of the Hockey India league, here on Friday.
German stalwart Moritz Fuerste struck twice (18th and 28th minutes) while Glenn Turner (11th) and SK Uthappa (32nd) also found the net to ensure the home team bagged five points from the match, despite a late surge by the visitors. The encounter between Kalinga lancers and defending Champions Punjab Warriors brought back memories from last year's HIl when the two top teams met in the final and this time Kalinga lancers avenged their loss.
It was Matthew Dawson's perfect pass forward that found Turner within the circle who tapped it fiercely into the post giving the home team a 2-0 lead in the 11th minute. The home team continued to dominate the second quarter too as they found yet another break through their skipper Moritz Fuerste, who successfully used the video referral to win his team their second penalty corner, which the German converted.
It was in-form Fuerste who took the flick again and he showcased precision yet again in the 28th minute to hand his team a comfortable 4-0 lead at half time.
SV Sunil won the visitors yet another penalty corner in the dying minutes of the match and a stunning variation attempt for a field goal was successfully converted by Arman Qureshi in the 57th minute but the goal counted for just one instead of two as it was trapped by Robert Van Der Horst inside the five-meter circle.