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CHANDIGARH: Defending champions Orissa Steelers suffered a mild jolt in their opening match as they lost to Bangalore Hi-Fliers by aggregate 5-6 margin in shoot-out session as the regulation period of 70-minute ended in a two-all draw and 10 minutes of extra time for a silver goal ended in a deadlock in the fourth edition of the Premier Hockey League at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here on Friday night.
Sharing six goals in the shoot-out, Sandeep Michael snatched the match-winner for the Bangalore Hi-Fliers as he scooped over the Orissa Steelers goalkeeper Gurpreet and clinch the issue in favour of Bangalore Hi-Fliers. Other goal-getters for Bangalore Hi-Fliers in shoot-out were Vimal, Arjun Halappa and Vikramkanth. Tushar Khandekar wasted his chance for Bangalore Hi-Fliers. For Orissa Steelers, Prabodh Tirkey, Roshan Minz scored. Shakeel and William Xalxo wasted their opportunities. In a thrilling encounter, Bangalore Hi-Fliers had a slight edge in the first two quarters. Orissa Steelers forged ahead in the 25th minute. Eliazer Ekka sidestepped Hi-Fliers' defender Len Aiyappa on top of the circle and took a semi-circle before beating Bangalore team Bharat Chetri goalkeeper. In a counter attack, Bangalore Hi-Fliers earned a penalty corner in the 41st minute. A defender took Len Aiyappa's drag flick on the body and another short corner was awarded. This time Len Aiyappa found the target with sizzling flick to equalise in the 42nd minute. Orissa Steelers went ahead again in the 58th minute by converting the third of their five penalty corners. Birender took the push and Ignace Tirkey set the stage for William Xalxo to sound the boards with a direct drive. With two minutes remailing, , BangaloreHi-Fliers forced their third and last short corner and once again Len Aiyappa banged the target. The 10-minute extra-time for the silver goal proved abortive and the teams went into shoot-out. Ignace, Prabodh and Roshan Minz scored for Orissa and Vimal, Arjun Halappa and Vikramkanth found the target for Bangalore while Shakeel and Tushar missed from Orissas and Bangalore respectively. From the last try, William Xalxo's attempt was blocked by Bangalore Hi-Fliers goalkeeper Bharat Chetri. Now Sandeep Michael drew the rival goalkeeper Gurpreet to the right before scooping over him for the match winner for Bangalore Hi-Fliers. Hi-Fliers goalkeeper Bharat Chetri was adjudged the man of the match. |
