Hi-Fliers, Dynamos enter PHL semis

Dec 31:  Local favourites Chandigarh Dynamos alongwith former champions and strong contenders of PHL title Bangalore Hi-Fliershave made it to the last four stage, by beating their respective opponents, of the 4th Premier Hockey League being played at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here on Sunday.

Bangalore Hi-Fliers prevailed over Sher-E-Jalandhar by 2-1 and later riding on Sher Singh’s lone goal Chandigarh Dynamos scored a hard-fought 1-0 win over Maratha Warriors to qualify for semis.

Dynamos surged ahead in the 26th minute and it turned out to be the match-winner at the end. A corner shot from Rajpal Singh found Ravipal Singh just outside the circle on the goalline and Ravipal sent a cross into the goalmouth where Sher Singh linked it with his stick close to the goalkeeper to guide it into the net.

A total of 17 matches have been played till Sunday and Hi-Fliers is at the top of the table with 14 points after finishing their league programme with four outright victories and one on strokes and a lone defeat. The other two semi-finalists would be spotted in the next few days.

Defending champions Orissa Steelers (8 points), Maratha Warriors (7 pts), Sher-e-Jalandhar and Hyderabad Sultans (five points each) will fight it out for the remaining two semi-final berths. Maratha Warriors will have to beat Hyderabad Sultans in their last league match on January 2 if they want to grab semis spot.

While lowly placed Chennai Veerans are out of contention though they have two more matches in their hands. The picture will be clearer after Sultans play its rest of the two matches. Shers have only to play Orissa Steelers in their last match.

Earlier in the first match, after a barren first half, Hi-Fliers drew the first blood converting the third and last of their penalty corners.

Bangalore forced their second short corner but missed the chance with an indirect variation in the 47th minute. However, they earned one more short corner and this time drag flick specialist Len Aiyappa sent a low flick to the right of goalkeeper Salman Akbar in Shers' goal.

Bangalore custodian Bharat Chetri made a good save thwarting Sarvanjit Singh in the 52nd minute and then blocked Shers' fourth and last set-piece drill in the 58th minute saving Kanwalpreet Singh's flick before Len cleared the ball to safety.

Bangalore increased the lead in the 67th minute with a superb field goal. Tushar Khandekar sent a ball from the right and Bangalore's Korean import You Hyo-sik set the ball for teammate Sebastian on the top of the circle and moved into the goalmouth.

Sebastian darted in dodging a couple of defenders, moved in on the goalline and sent a brilliant minus pass into the goalmouth for a waiting Hyo-sik who doubled the lead.

Shers pulled one back to reduce the margin in the 69th minute when Gurvinder Singh deflected home off a long diagonal cross into the circle from the left.

POINTS TALLY