Chennai Veerans defeated Hyderabad Sultans 7-6 in sudden-death to register their first victory in the Premier Hockey League in Hyderabad on Thursday.
The teams were locked 1-1 after regulation time. Extra-time and even the tie-breaker failed to break the deadlock as both teams scored from all their five strokes.
In sudden-death, captain Ignace Tirkey found the mark for Veerans while Avtar Singh's flick was well-stopped by Veerans custodian Devesh Chauhan.
Chennai got two points from the contest while the hosts had to be content with one for taking the match into extra-time.
In the penalty shoot-out Avatar Singh, Sohail Abbas, Vikram Pillai, Ajitesh Rai and Wasim Ahmed scored for the home team while Ignace Tirkey, Sandeep Singh, Bimal Lakra, Juan Escarre and Vivek Singh netted for Chennai Veerans.
Sandeep Singh scored with a drag flick in the second quarter to put Chennai ahead in the 33rd minute.
The India penalty-corner ace made no mistake as Adam Sinclair took the push and he flicked the ball to the top corner of the net.
But Hyderabad Sultans drew level when Sameer Dad scored a spectacular goal in the 50th minute.
Sameer, after getting the ball from Wasim Ahmed, scooped the ball to the top corner of the goal from a narrow angle to send the homes crowd in raptured.
Crowd favourite Sohail Abbas, who scored a hat-trick in the previous match against the Chennai Veerans, was off-colour today as he failed from al the three penalty-corners he took.
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