WSH: Comets destroy Lions 6-1 to top points table

Chandigarh: Chandigarh Comets displayed sensational hockey today in front of their home crowd to thrash the seemingly rejuvenated Karnataka Lions 6-1, and grabbed the top position in the table, replacing  the invincible Sher-E-Punjab, with 28 points from 14 matches. The Shers are now three points behind them and have just one match remaining to play in the ongoing WSH.

Gurjinder Singh struck four goals in the match, to take his personal tally to 18 goals as he moved to the top of the Golden Stick race along with Chennai Cheetahs’ Pakistani import, Imran Warsi.

Karnataka Lions had rested their key players, including penalty corner specialist Len Aiyappa and will be looking to forget this match as early as possible and focus on the semifinals. On the other side, Chandigarh Comets unleashed their penalty corner specialist Gurjinder Singh, who scored a hat-trick and went on to become the joint top-scorer along with Pakistan drag-flick specialist Imran Warsi and missed an extended short corner at hooter to go one-up at the top as he missed his fifth goal of the day.

It was Karnataka who took the lead after missing a couple of sharp chances in the barren first quarter, through Sandeep Singh, who converted from a set-piece when his drag flick brooked no answer from the Comets goalkeeper in the 25th minute. But their joy was short-lived, as Comets aggressive attack began as they started dominating the play with better exchanges and more ball possession. They earned a short corners in 33rd minute and drag-flick specialist Gurjinder Singh converted to get the equalizer. Immediately Comets took lead with a brilliant goal where a diving Ramandeep Singh sent in a reverse hit after collecting a rebound from the custodian at the top of the circle to take a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Then Gurjinder scored twice in the space of two minutes make good use of two short corner in the 55th and 56th minutes to get his hat-trick and a 4-1 lead for Comets. He got one more in the fag end, his fourth goal which took his tally to 18 in the charts in the 68th minute. He missed one on the hooter is a different story. Inbetween, Barkat scored a field goal in his second attempt after the goalie blocked the first try in the 64th minute.

But Karnataka appeared cool and resting their key players may prove strategic if they can forget this match and play with renewed vigour with key scorer Len Aiyappa joining back.

Ramandeep Singh was the man of the match.