Dabang Mumbai H.C. overturned a 3-goal deficit vs home team Delhi Waveriders in virtually no time to stun the home crowd and notch their 3rd win in a row. The win was significant, not just for their hopes of making the semi-final this season, but also because it broke numerous records.
Sitting pretty in the semi-final spots, the Alphas have set up the perfect platform to go all guns blazing in the final stages of the tournament.
Let's take a look at all the interesting numbers from the match:
9 minutes, 4 goals
The Alphas scored 4 field goals (8 score points) in a span of just 9 minutes – the least time taken to score 4 goals by any team in the history of the Coal India Hockey India League (HIL). From the 49th minute to the 58th minute, Dabang Mumbai stunned the crowd assembled at the Shivaji Hockey Stadium in Delhi with their dazzling and prolific play.
Most goals scored in a quarter – 4
Having turned the match on its head in the final quarter, Jay Stacy's men also became the team to have scored the most goals in a single quarter. Manpreet scored a brace while Danish Mujtaba and Nilakanta Sharma also got their names on the scoresheet as the Alphas broke yet another record.
2nd best score difference – 5
Having beaten the Waveriders 8-3, Dabang Mumbai H.C. amassed the second biggest score difference this season in the world's biggest hockey league. A score difference of 5 makes this the Alphas' best ever win in HIL history.
Manpreet's Deja Vu
2 goals in 58 seconds by Manpreet make him the player to have the least amount of time between his 2 goals in Hockey India League history. As far as teams go, that record goes to Uttar Pradesh Wizards, who scored 2 goals in the dying moments vs Kalinga Lancers to win the match.
Highest score by the Alphas
The Alphas scored 8 points by scoring 4 field goals – their highest in the tournament's history.
Highest position so far this season – 4th
This win propelled Matthew Swann and co. to 4th spot in the HIL table – their highest position so far. What is more encouraging for the team, is that if they win their game in hand, they will go above Kalinga Lancers, who lie in 2nd spot having played 8 match as compared to 7 for the Alphas.
3 in a row
Dabang Mumbai notched up their 3rd consecutive win in the Coal India HIL, their best run in the tournament's history. This is also the Alphas' second consecutive away win in the tournament.