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A gritty show by James Mazarelo backed up by a Kane Russell brace enabled the UP Rudras to overcome the Kalinga Lancers 3-1 in the Hockey India League game on Monday (December 30).
The Lancers who dominated proceedings for large periods of their tournament opener were repeatedly denied by Mazarelo who had an outstanding match.
Despite taking the lead in the opening quarter, the Kalinga Lancers were pegged back by a Kane Russell drag flick at the end of the third quarter and an opportunistic goal from open play in the fourth.
Russell scored a second after Valentin Altenburg took Krishan Pathak off with the Rudras earning a penalty corner at the death and notching up three points in their Hockey India League opener.
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The UP Rudras came out all guns blazing with Odisha lad Sudeep Chirmako taking a lighting shot, which missed the target by a whisker early in the opening quarter.
Nicholas Bandurak did the same for the Lancers in the ninth minute even as the momentum swung the way of the defending champions in the fast and exciting Hockey India League encounter.
An unmarked Enrique Gonzalez opened the scoring for the Kalinga Lancers in the 13th minute off a peach of an assist from Boby Singh Dhami. The Lancers had a couple of chances to increase the lead including a penalty corner taken by Alexander Hendrickx.
James Mazarelo pulled off a couple of brilliant saves to deny the Lancers who continued the wave of attacks in the second quarter with the goalkeeper from GB holding the fort with aplomb.
Mazarelo ensured that the lead for the Lancers was restricted to a lone goal after Boby Singh Dhami unleashed a powerful shot on target immediately after the long breather.
A wobbly defence had Rudras' coach Paul van Ass wear a concerned look even as Valentin Altenburg was all smiles with the Lancers displaying their attacking prowess much to the delight of the Rourkela crowd.
Lalit Upadhyay failed to pack a punch in his shot from close range in the 38th minute before a diving Krishan Pathak stopped what would have been a certain goal with his outstretched stick.
The Rudras won their first penalty corner in the final minute of the third quarter. Kane Russell beat Mazarelo with a powerful and well-directed drag-flick silencing the crowd at the Birsa Munda Stadium.
Sudeep Chirmarko had a chance to score after a dreadful defensive lapse in the but directed the shot straight at Pathak's body. A lightning counter provided the Lancers an opportunity at the other end but it was the Rudras who took a 2-1 lead in the 50th minute.
A long ball played into the striking circle took a feather touch deflection off the stick of Sudeep Chirmako and made its way into the goal past a surprised Krishan Pathak.
Kane Russell continued to enjoy his run in India with a second penalty corner goal at the death even as the Rudras sealed the deal in style.
All the teams in the Hockey India League have now played a game each at the end of the third day. The UP Rudras are now on top of the points table with three points followed by the Rarh Bengal Tigers as the only two sides who have registered outright wins.
Hockey India League: Updated Points Table Men's League Phase (Monday, December 30)
Hockey India League 2024: Men's League Fixtures (Tuesday, December 31)
Delhi SG Pipers vs Hyderabad Toofans, 8:15 pm IST (Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium)
