New Delhi: Young striker Akashdeep Singh scored a late winner to help hosts Delhi Waveriders eke out a hard-fought 1-0 win over title holders Ranchi Rhinos in front of strong home crowd at the floodlit Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here today.
Akashdeep scored a field goal in the 65th minute, which eventually sealed the match in the hosts' favour. The narrow win not only helped the Waveriders avenge their 0-1 loss to the same opponents in their earlier meeting this season but also gave them a sweet revenge of their defeat at the hands of the Rhinos in last edition's summit clash.
Even though both the Waveriders and the Rhinos created bright openings in the opening 35 minutes, the two teams failed to convert the chances into real goal-scoring opportunities in the highly anticipated match. It was a neck-and-neck fight between the Waveriders and the Rhinos, the two finest teams of the league, as play was mostly confined at the midfield in the opening two quarters.
If the Waveriders dominated the early share of exchanges, the Rhinos had the better share of ball possession in the second quarter. Such was the intense battle between the two teams that the first penalty corner of the game came as late as in the 30th minute in favour of the Rhinos, but they failed to stop the push properly to waste the chance as the stalemate continued.
The Waveriders were slow to get off the blocks after the change of ends as the visitors secured two penalty corners in succession 10 minutes into the second half. But as it has been the story for the Rhinos in the match, they wasted both the opportunities.
Soon the home team got a bright chance to surge ahead but Rupinderpal Singh's try from their first penalty corner was kept at bay by Rhinos custodian Francisco Cortes. The third quarter witnessed a lot of activity from both the sides with lot many attacks and counter-attacks, but their forwards lacked in cohesion.
The intense battle between Waveriders and the Rhinos continued in the fourth and final quarter with both the teams raiding each other's citadel with threatening moves. But it took 65th minutes for the large crowd to witness the first and only goal of the match when Akashdeep scored from a field strike after Kothajit Singh committed a defensive lapse just outside the Rhinos circle.
The victory gave the hosts five points and further extended their lead at the top of the league table with 34 points from nine games. The Rhinos had to be satisfied with just two points from the encounter. The Rhinos will take on debutants Kalinga Lancers in their next fixture in Bhubaneswar on Friday before the Waveriders play Dabur Mumbai Magicians in Mumbai on Saturday.
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