Chandigarh: Maratha Warriors served a stern warning on their opponents as they toppled the defending champions, Hyderabad Sultan by 2-1, in the opening match of the Tier I Premier Hockey League at the Hockey Stadium on Friday.
The Maratha Warriors forward line comprising Vijay Alphonso, Girish Pimple, Dhanraj Pillay, Shivender Singh and Bharat gave Hyderabad Sultans a tough time as they made their intentions clear from the pass-back.
The teams did not disappoint the crowds gathered to watch the match and former Indian captain Dhanraj Pillay remained the darling of the crowds as he played for the full duration.
Although Dhanraj Pillay threatened Hyderabad Sultans in the fourth minute, the move did not produce any results.
Pakistan player Shakeen Abassi initiated a move and gave a parallel pass to Sameer Dad who did not anticipate it.
Maratha Warriors kept on the pressure and forced a penalty corner in the 16th minute. Pakistan star player Imran Abassi tried to convert the penalty corner with a powerful drag flick.
However, Hyderabad Sultan goalkeeper Salman Akbar rose to the occasion and thwarted the move with fine anticipation and quick reflexes.
The first goal, conceded by the Hyderabad Sultans was the result of a defensive lapse on the part of Vikram Pillay.
Opportunist Shivinder Singh, who had a memorable match, snatched the ball from Vikram and side-stepped him before shooting on the run with a reverse flick.
Two minutes after resumption, Dhanraj Pillay, voted Man of the Match, held the spotlight again as Shivinder Singh sent a cross to Viajy Alphonso, who because of slow reflexes wasted a chance.
Pillay had his hand in Maratha Warriors' second goal in the 42nd minute and gave an immaculate pass to Shivinder Singh who gave it to unmarked Hemant Ghethe.
Even being two down, Maratha Warriors maintained an attack mode on Hyderabad Sultans but could not score any more goals.
Just before Hyderabad Sultans could score their face-saving goal in the 67th minute, Maratha Warriors had an opportunity to pump in another goal.
Shivinder Singh had a try in vain at the Hyderabad Sultans and Dhanraj Pillay could have capitalized on the chance but was beaten in the air.
Then came the Hyderabad Sultans goal. A fierce goalmouth melee occurred inside the Maratha Warriors striking circle and Devinder Singh grabbed the opportunity to guide the ball in.
Meanwhile in the fourth and final quarter, Pakistani player Shakeel Abassi was hit on the face when a Maratha player took a free hit, but was back on the field after medical care.
He was later taken for a complete medical check-up.
Marathan Warriors captain Viren Rasquinha played for two quarters.
Vijay Alphonso (55th minute) and Sunil Yadav (19th) of Maratha Warriors were shown green cards whiel Dev Inder Pal Singh of Hyderabad got a yellow card.
Both teams were awarded one penalty corner each but none could take advatnge of the set piece.
Punjab Governor Lt Gen (Retd) SF Rodrigues inaugurated the second edition of the PHL. Also present on the occasion was Indian Hockey Federation president Kanwar Pal Singh Gill.
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