Uttar Pradesh Wizards do the double over Kalinga Lancers in HIL

Uttar Pradesh Wizards Bob de Voogd celebrates with teammates after scoring in HIL

The Uttar Pradesh Wizards registered yet another victory over the Kalinga Lancers in two days, this time at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubneshwar. Uttar Pradesh sealed a 2-0 victory to go second, behind the Jaypee Punjab Warriors, in the Hockey India League.

Uttar Pradesh goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was again the standout performer and made some stunning saves, while Andrew Charter for the Lancers also kept his side within touching distance, but some fine hockey from the visitors was all that made the difference.

The first goal was scored by Dutchman Bob de Voogd in the 13th minute when he outfoxed Charter to put the ball into the net. It was a brilliant bit of work by de Voogd, who after gathering the pass flicked it over the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into the net.

In the second quarter, Kalinga could have got the equaliser but Sreejesh made some stunning saves to keep Uttar Pradesh ahead before the half-time. With just one goal separating the two sides, the match was finely poised at the end of the first half.

The Lancers set the tempo in the third quarter and earned an early penalty corner. Kalinga could have got the equalizer early in the second-half, but a powerful drag flick from Gurjinder Singh, unfortunately, hit the post.

Uttar Pradesh doubled their lead in the 35th minute on Ramandeep Singh’s scorching reverse hit that whistled into the goal, without giving any chance to goalkeeper Charter. Sreejesh, meanwhile, made some superb saves as the match went into the final quarter of play.

The Wizards had opportunity to triple their lead when umpire awarded them a penalty stroke, but Charter made a thought-out referral to convert it into a penalty corner. The Australian managed to stop VR Raghunath’s flick on the penalty corner.

Kalinga tried to score in the final minutes of the game, but as the clock kept ticking away, scoring two goals to earn at least a draw looked a distinct dream for them. They, however, earned a points from the tie.