Deepak Thakur`s magic touch did wonders for Chandigarh Dynamos. He scored the equaliser in the last seconds and Sandeep Singh sturck a silver goal as Dynamos tamed Bangalore Lions 2-1 in the Premier Hockey League at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium in Chandigarh on Monday.
Trailing by a goal, Dynamos earned a free-hit in the last minute, just outside the 25-yard line in the middle, and with all Bangalore boys defending inside the circle, Sandeep Singh hit a defence-splitting cross and Thakur's magic deflection close to the right post saw the ball zoom into the net. The crowd erupted into a loud applause that drowned the hooter.
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Playing without skipper Rajpal Singh and main custodian Baljit Singh, who were injured in a road accident, Dynamos dominated the game and made many dangerous moves but a goal eluded them. Bangalore Lions failed miserably in the midfield while Inderjit Chadha and Imran Khan took control of the play for Dynamos. Tejbir Singh, who was named Lion of the Match later, and Pakistan's Mudassar Ali Khan excelled in the attack for Dynamos.
Dynamos fell in arrears in the 50th minute after conceding two successive penalty-corners. Sandeep Singh, who rushed to the top, took Quintana`s drag flick on his legs and a second penalty-corner was awarded. This time, after a dummy, Arjun Halappa found the boards through a low drag flick to provide a 1-0 lead for the Lions.
Dynamos attacked thereafter, but Lions defended well. But the last-minute goal by Thakur pushed the match into extra-time, when Dynamos earned a penalty-corner in the dying seconds of the first half. Sandeep executed a perfect drag-flick to provide the silver goal in the 77 th minute and two points for Dynamos.
Dynamos now have 11 points after six matches and lead the table, while Lions are on 8 points after five matches.
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