Ranchi Rhinos humble Mumbai Magicians 3-1, top points table

The Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi was packed to capacity. And the occasion was no less significant – it was Rhinos’ first home match and the vociferous crowd was fully behind them as their favourite boys went on from where they had left off in their league opener against Jaypee Punjab Warriors.

The boisterous crowd also had former India and Pakistan cricketers – Sanjay Manjrekar and Wasim Akram – watching the proceedings. The Rhinos took some time to settle down even as Mumbai Magicians coach Ric Charlesworth replaced their captain, handing over the captain’s armband to Liam De Young from Sandeep Singh for their team’s second match.

Rhinos controlled the midfield with captain Moritz Fuertse and the likes of Kothajit Singh and Birendra Lakra, conspicuous by his red headband, operating as a cohesive unit.

The possession play enjoyed by Rhinos bore fruit when young Vikas Choudhary put his side ahead in the 9th minute with a reverse flick, making the most of a clinical cross from the right flank from Nick Wilson.

Mumbai Magicians muffed a chance to level things when seasoned Glenn Turner failed to tap in a pass from Matthew Swann in the closing stages of the first quarter.

Rhinos upped the ante in the second quarter even as Magicians showed no signs of posing any threat to their citadel.

The red brigade went 2-0 up in the 22nd minute when Mandeep Singh scored from close range after his team-mate Nick Wilson’s hit was stopped by Magicians goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. The move was nicely set up by Ashley Jackson.

The goal further pepped up the Rhinos, who orchestrated attacking moves from both flanks. Rhinos’ first goal scorer Vikas Choudhary earned his team’s first penalty corner when he was obstructed inside the Magicians’ D.

South African Austin Smith slammed home a powerful shot to give the Rhinos a 3-0 cushion in the 29th minute.

In stark contrast, Mumbai forwardline failed to ask serious questions of the Rhinos defence in the first thirty-five minutes of play. The Mumbai outfit were let down by Turner, who struggled to get going while Faizal Saari and Chinglensana Singh shone in patches.

Such was the dominance of Rhinos in the first two quarters that their goalkeeper Franciso Cortes was reduced to a mere spectator, which is a fair indication about how they held sway over the proceedings.

Mumbai Magicians desperately needed a goal at the start of the third quarter and showed more purpose in their attacks.

The Magicians earned their first penalty corner but drag-flick expert Sandeep Singh could not capitalize on it. The disappointment of missing the short corner was atoned for when Chinglensana Singh slotted home from an indirect execution of their team’s second penalty corner – surprisingly drag-flicker Sandeep Singh was on the bench as part of the rolling substitution role.

Magicians tried everything to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter but Rhinos held firm. The Mumbai side stitched attacking moves but seemed bereft of ideas inside the Rhinos’ D.

Magicians suffered a big blow in the dying moments when they were reduced to 10-man as Anup Valmiki was yellow-carded for a harsh tackle on a Rhinos player – those five minutes outside the turf cost them dearly.

Rhinos leapfrogged to the top of the points table ahead of Delhi Waveriders on better goal average, with both gleaning ten points from two matches.

The win also broke the league’s four consecutive sequence of identical 2-1 victory margins.

Ranchi Rhinos captain Moritz Fuertse said his team will only get better in the coming matches. “We have a good team and we are playing well. Hope to maintain this momentum in our future games.”

Mumbai Magicians captain Liam De Young sounded positive despite two straight defeats.”We had bit of a disrupted preparation but we are slowly getting close to our best.”