Chandigarh Dynamos pip Hyderabad Sultans to enter final

Chandigarh, Jan 5 (UNI) Gaurav Tokhi pulled the goalkeeper to the wrong side and sounded the boards from the last stroke to signal victory for Chandigarh Dynamos even as the huge crowd gave a standing ovation to the home team in the first semi-final of the Premier Hockey League at the Sector 42 Stadium here today.

Chandigarh Dynamos defeated Hyderabad Sultans 5-3 after shoot-out. The teams were locked 0-0 after regulation time and 1-1 after extra-time.

Earlier, after a barren regulation time, Chandigarh Dynamos made a dramatic comeback into the match with seconds to go in the silver-time period.

After a dull and drab regulation time where both the teams failed to raise the game to the expected standards, the match was pushed into the extra-time of two five-minute halfs for the silver goal.

A speedy run into the circle by Pramod Kumar saw Hyderabad Sultans earn a short corner in the 73rd minute and drag-flick specialist Diwakar Ram sent a waist-high flick to the right of goalkeeper Baljit Singh.

However, with only a few seconds left on the clock, Dynamos drew level with a gem of a goal to extend the match. Dynamos earned a free-hit in the midfield and Sandeep Singh sent a powerful through ball into the circle and Deepak Thakur stretched his stick in front of the goalkeeper to deflect the ball into the goal.

Thereafer, Dynamos made three exciting moves in the second half of the extra-time but failed to score and shoot-out was resorted to where both the teams have five stroke-takers who get 8 seconds each for a one-on-one battle with the goalkeeper.

In the regulation time, Hyderabad wasted two short corners while Sandeep Singh's flick drew over the bar during the only penalty corner that Dynamos forced.

In the shoot-out, Rajpal Singh, Deepak Thakur, Ravipal and Gaurav Tokhi succeeded for Dynamos while only Pramod Kumar and Didar Singh scored for Hyderabad Sultans. Prabjot Singh failed for Dynamos while Saradara Singh and Bikas Toppo flopped for Hyderabad while Pawal Lakra did not take the stroke as the result was already decided.

Deepak Thakur was declared man of the match.

UNI PS BK1852