Resurgent Punjab Warriors hand UP Wizards third straight defeat

The Jaypee Punjab Warriors were touted as the team to watch in the Hero Hockey India League, with a bevy of big names in their ranks. But much to the surprise of many, the Warriors haven’t quite lived up to that billing, struggling to play as a cohesive unit, which saw them lose their first three matches.

Nobody was willing to write them off considering the all-round strength of the Punjab outfit. The Warriors’ resurgence showed on Sunday at the Dhyan Chand Astroturf Stadium in Lucknow as they pulled off an impressive 4-3 win to consign Uttar Pradesh Wizards to their third straight defeat and also take third spot in the points table.

The Warriors struck early, even before the Lucknow crowd had settled into their seats. SV Sunil sped down the left and fired a rasping shot, which brook no answer from Wizards’ goalkeeper George Bazeley in the second minute, much to the disappointment of the home crowd.

The Wizards seemed a tad jaded by the back-to-back matches and looked below par. They were not allowed to control the proceedings as a fresh and hungry Punjab outfit appeared more determined to log full points.

Just as they were coping with the opening goal reverse, SV Sunil piled on their agony a minute later when he tapped home a pass from captain Jamie Dwyer from the left.

The Warriors went up 3-0 in the eight minute when they profited from their first penalty corner. Captain Jamie Dwyer for a change took the drag-flick, and successfully executed it beating George Bazeley.

The Wizards did pull back one through David Alegre two minutes later when the Spanish midfielder made the most of some poor tackling by Gurinder Singh.

The 3-1 scoreline had the trapping of a close game – but Punjab nullified any such thoughts running up a 4-1 lead in the sixteenth minute through Chris Ciriello, who slammed home the team’s second penalty corner, the ball racing past the legs of Bazeley.

Punjab could have enhanced the lead in the second quarter but Simon Orchard hit the upright. A few minutes later, Dharamvir Singh banged a shot off a pass from Dwyer, which was nicely blocked by Bazeley.

Punjab maintained 59% possession in the first half, which was a fair indication of the way they dominated proceedings.

The Punjab defence held firm and did not allow any open chances for the Wizards’ forwardline, rendering even the likes of Teun de Nooijer ineffective. The triumvirate of Gurmail Singh, Chris Ciriello and Mark Knowles performed a neat job in defence and soaked up whatever pressure Wizards exerted on them.

Warriors forced their third penalty corner following a foul by Vivek Dhar, which resulted in a follow-on PC, which was foiled by the Wizards, whose defence put up a sorry performance in the opening quarter.

The Punjab outfit had a great opportunity to make it 5-1 when Dharamvir hustled down the middle off a clinical pass from Ciriello, but was thwarted by a timely tackle from Luke Doerner.

The Wizards muffed up another chance to enhance the lead off their fifth penalty corner in the 61st minute when Jamie Dwyer’s shot was blocked by the Wizards’ defence.

The short corner was earned after Wizards’ captain Vokkaliga Raghunath carried the ball following a combined move from Sunil and Malak Singh.

Raghunath made amends from their team’s first penalty corner five minutes from the final hooter to make it 2-4.

Jeroen Hertzeberger triggered more excitement in the final stages blasting home from the left amid a goalmouth melee in the 68th minute to make it 3-4.

Pumped up after two quick goals, Wizards’ coach Roelants Oltsmans replaced goalkeeper Bazeley and made Luke Doerner their kicking fullback in the final minute of play in a bid to press for the equalizer.

Punjab held out for the final moments with poise, and ensured that their revival story is very much in place.