Mumbai: Mumbai Marines survived anxious moments at the fag-end but held on to a lone second-quarter goal to post full points against Bhopal Bhadshahs in their second game at the Mahindra Stadium in the Bridgestones World Series Hockey here on Friday night.
Marines, who lost to Pune Strykers in their first game garnered three points while Bhopal Badshahs, who stunned home team Chandrigarh Comets in the inaugural game.
Earlier, in a fast paced game, Mumbai Marines overcame initial hiccups with a strong deep defence consisting of Ajmer Singh and Clyde Abrahams, who thwarted aggressive moves from Bhopal Badshahs where veteran warhorse Sameer Dad did open up dangerous passes to their frontline. However, the midfield battle warmed up only in the second quarter as the first quarter remained goalless even as Badshahs had two shots at goal.
With vocal support from sizeable crowd, Mumbai Marines who lost a high-scoring first match to Pune Strykers, upped the game in the second quarter and hoisted the lead in the 25th minute through a crisp move from the left flank. Troy Sutherland received the ball in the 25-yard area and dribbled towards the top of the circle to open up the angle and deftly cut into the `D’ to unleash a stunning shot which caressed Bhopal Badshahs defender Casey Henwood before entering the goal leaving no chance to goalkeep Baljit Singh.
Mumbai Marines and Bhopal Badshahs palyed on even keel in the third quarter sharing possession but the circle penetrations by Mumbai looked dangerous while Badshah failed to provide finishing touches in the circle. While Joga Singh missed a difficult chance towards the end of the quarter to enhance the lead for Marines, Badshahs too messed up a chance in the closing minute of the quarter to get the equalizer.
However, Bhopal Badshahs increased the tempo of the game showing urgency upfront with Sameer Dad and Waseem Ahmad creating dangerous moments in the rival defence but three short-corners were all that they could garner. In the last couple of minutes, Waseem created another good chance with a move from the left flank but Casey Henwood fumbled from around the spot. The sustained pressure got Badshahs their sixth and last penalty corner in the dying seconds but Mumbai Marines thwarted it and heaved a sigh of relief as the hooter coincided. Marines too wasted three short corners today but the managed to get full points.
Junior International star Devinder Walmiki, the thrustful forward of Mumbai Marines, has been declared Man of the Match.
