HIL 2016 - Mumbai comeback to hand Delhi another home defeat

The match began with Delhi Waveriders pressing hard to score. The hosts, who had lost three matches in a row, started their campaign today with a clear intention to win. Their pressing game along with the strong defence line of Dabang Mumbai made the game extremely competitive as the forwards from both sides evoked quite a few crucial saves from goalkeepers on both ends of the field. Mumbai, however, played with more control and managed some good moves on Delhi’s side but were unable to break through the defence of the hosts. The goal-less first quarter saw many unsuccessful attempts to score from both the teams.

The second quarter began with both the teams trying to take control of the game, but it was the hosts Delhi Waveriders who found the gap to score their first field goal of the day through Steven Edwards in the 22nd minute, taking the much-needed 2-0 lead in the game. The rest of the second quarter saw Delhi Waveriders playing an attacking game with an occasional counter-attack from Mumbai, but the defenders on both sides ensured no further goal conversions for either of the teams.

The second half began with Mumbai taking charge of the game, and they started pressing hard on Delhi, but were still unsuccessful in breaking Delhi’s defence. Delhi, who were trying hard to capitalise on their lead, were rewarded with a penalty corner in the 39th minute, which was duly converted by Rupinder Pal Singh to give the hosts a much-needed 3-0 lead in the game. The third quarter came to an end with Delhi Waveriders holding a 3-0 lead over Mumbai. 

The fourth quarter began on a similar note with the hosts still hungry for more goals, but Mumbai had different plans, and all their hard work finally showed the result through a beautiful field goal off Danish Mujtaba’s stick in the 49th minute. The score board now stood at 2-3 still in favour of Delhi. Mumbai continued to press harder and their efforts paid off very soon as Mumbai scored their second goal within three minutes through Nilkanta Sharma, taking a lead of 4-3 at a very critical moment of the game. The goal changed the course of the game as the visitors now hunted in packs destroying Delhi’s defensive line, and they sealed the match finally through Manpreet who scored two successive field goals in the 57th and 58th minute respectively. The match ended with Mumbai winning the match 8-3 against Delhi Waveriders.

The Coal India Goal of the Match award was presented to Manpreet from Mumbai, while Delhi's Surendra Kumar walked away with the Most Entertaining Player of the Match award. Delhi Waveriders Rupinder Pal Singh was given the Man of the Match award, while Affan Yousuf from Dabang Mumbai won the Hero Emerging Player of the Match award of INR 25,000.

The next match of the HIL will be played between Uttar Pradesh Wizards and Jaypee Punjab Wizards in Lucknow on the 10th February.

With this win, Dabang Mumbai now jump to the fourth place in the points table, while Delhi Waveriders dropped to the bottom of the table.

Courtesy : HIL media