HIL 2016 – Sandeep wins it for Ranchi against former team Punjab
In what was a rematch of last year's final, Ranchi came out on top once again as Sandeep Singh scored the deciding goal from a penalty corner against his former team. The 5-4 win puts Ranchi back at the top of the table, as Punjab suffered their second home defeat of the season.
Armaan Qureshi gave Punjab Warriors the lead in the seventh minute of the first quarter, after he snatched the ball from Birendra Lakra inside the shooting circle. The young forward kept his composure with the goalkeeper charging towards him, and slotted it calmly into the back of the net.
After taking the 2-0 lead, Punjab dominated most of the first quarter, and the start of the second quarter. However, Ranchi came back and scored two field goals in quick successions, to take the lead in the game against the run of play.
The first arrived when Kothajit Singh drifted in from the left wing inside the shooting circle, and his low flick was deflected into his own net by Punjab defender Mark Gleghorne. In the 13th minute of the second quarter, Ranchi took the lead through Daniel Beale, after the Punjab defenders were found sleeping on a long corner. The Australian midfielder was left unmarked inside the circle, and he found the top corner with aplomb.
Despite having more possession (56% to 44%), more circle penetrations (8 to 3), and more shots on goal (5 to 2), almost inexplicably Punjab went into the halftime break trailing 2-4 to Ranchi.
The visitors, however, replied back at the start of the third quarter. In the opening minute, Satbir Singh scored, after Tyler Lovell in the Ranchi goal failed to deal with a cross from the right wing. The goalkeeper only managed to guide the ball towards Satbir, who found the back of the net to restore parity at 4-4.
The match, however, had one last twist remaining, and it arrived in the 13th minute of the third quarter. The incredibly talented Mohammad Amir won a penalty corner for his team, and Sandeep Singh blasted the ball past Tristan Clemons in the Punjab goal. That strike proved to be the winner in the end, as Punjab failed to grab an equalizer in the last quarter of the match.