In a must-win situation for a place in the semifinals, Chennai Cheetahs went on the prowl against Mumbai Marines, but returned empty-handed, losing 1-4 in the concluding Bridgestone World Series Hockey 2012 league tie.
Inspired by goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza and others playing the defensive hockey European sides are known for, the home team struck twice in the first quarter and twice in the fourth.
Imran Warsi reduced the margin of defeat by dragging in the ninth penalty corner, but by then the battle was lost. Adrian set the tone by foiling Warsi's second penalty corner attempt with fine sideways movement to palm away with his left hand an express drag from the Pakistani. Marines' defence did not reflect the same composure, mistakes by Ajmer at the back in trapping and passing resulting in loss of possession.
The home team went ahead through a stroke of luck in the fourth minute. Xess Vanmali's reverse hit trickled onto the boards near the right post through a crowd of legs. Ajmer made up for errors with a confident penalty stroke conversion. The central defender scooped high into the net on the left, Cheetahs custodian C Santosh moved the other way.
Cheetahs poured on the pressure, forced seven penalty corners till half-time, but could not find a way to outwit goalkeeper Adrian in goal. Vikram Pillay did not get room to spread the ball around, robbing teammates up front of passes. Viren Rasquinha did a meticulous job of policing his former India teammate.
Marines played the spoiling game to the hilt, packing men behind the ball and closing down approach routes to the goal. Playing to a plan, the hosts switched the ball around in defence, daring the visitors to expend energy in pursuit throughout a lacklustre third quarter. Cheetahs snatched the ball twice, but ran out of ideas around the goalmouth.
The result: Mumbai Marines 4 (Xess Banmali, Ajmer Singh, Troy Sutherland, Ajjub Ekka) bt Chennai Cheetahs 1 (Imran Warsi).
