Dabang Mumbai bridged a two-goal deficit by scoring a splendid field goal in the dying moments to hold two-time champions Ranchi Rays 3-3 in the opening game of the 5th Hockey India league, here on Saturday.
India international Nikkin Thimmiah scored the timely effort, in an indirect way off the hosts' fifth and last penalty-corner award which became a field effort and counted as two to help Mumbai storm back from 1-3 to 3-3 at the MHAl Stadium.
The other goals for the hosts was scored by Harmanpreet Singh, off a penalty corner, while Ranchi got their goals from Simranjeet Singh, a brilliant field effort that broke the goal drought in the match and Germany's Christopher Ruhr, who converted a penalty stroke.
After the teams remained goalless in the first two quarters, although Ranchi had a slight upper hand in the matter of coming close to score, the visitors took the lead with a fine field goal by Simranjeet Singh. Since it was a field goal it counted as two as per the rules of the league so that Ranchi led 2-0 after the 31st minute of play.