Jaypee Punjab Warriors dished out a commendable performance to thrash Dabur Mumbai Magicians 5-3 in the second edition of the Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) here on Sunday.
Putting behind its defeat against Delhi, Punjab Warriors made a promising start and created trouble for the Mumbai defence from the onset.
Agustin Mazzilli put Punjab Warriors ahead in the seventh minute by scoring from a rebound after young Affan Yousuf’s initial shot was saved by Mumbai goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh.
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Punjab Warriors got a golden opportunity to extend its lead minutes later when it earned a penalty corner but failed to convert it.
Undeterred by the early goal, the Mumbai outfit came back strongly and scored two goals within a span of three minutes to take the lead.
First Mark Gleghorne (15th minute) converted a penalty corner and then Ravipal Singh (17th) scored a field goal to give Mumbai Magicians a 2-1 lead.
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The Punjab side pressed hard for the equalizer in the second quarter and finally managed to get it in the 30th minute when Malak Singh scored with a field effort.
But nine minutes later, Mumbai Magicians restored its lead through Vinaya Vakkaliga.
It was not to be Mumbai Magicians’ day as the Warriors went all out thereafter and converted three penalty corners to hand Punjab a win.
Punjab’s star drag-flicker Sandeep Singh first converted a penalty corner in the 40th minute and then Australian Christopher Ciriello (47th) and Dharamvir Singh (67th) made full use of two more set pieces.
The Warriors will next play Kalinga Lancers in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, while Mumbai Magicians will be up against Uttar Pradesh Wizards here on Wednesday.
The result: Punjab Warriors 5 (Agustin Mazzilli 7, Malak Singh 30, Sandeep Singh 40, Christopher Ciriello 47, Dharamvir Singh 67) bt Mumbai Magicians 3 (Mark Gleghorne 15, Ravipal Singh 17, Vinaya Vakkaliga 39).