TIL Desk Sports/ Uttar Pradesh Wizards enthralled the home crowd with a scintillating 4-0 win against two-time title holders Ranchi Rays that lifted them to the third spot in the points table in the ongoing fifth edition of the Hockey India League (HIL). Field goals by Seve van Ass (37′) and Akashdeep Singh (60′) sealed the much-needed five points from the match here on Thursday.
When the two teams met earlier in the league, they split the points with a 0-0 draw in Ranchi. Placed at the bottom of the table, and three more games left in the pool stage, it was a must-win game for the home side to keep their semi final hopes alive. Ensuring the Uttar Pradesh Wizards didn’t concede PCs was one of their key strategies insisted skipper V.R Raghunath ahead of the match and they stuck to the plan.
While both teams went into the first break locked in a stalemate, Uttar Pradesh Wizards got off the blocks in the second quarter pressing hard in the circle and it paid off when they won the first PC in the 19th minute. Uttar Pradesh Wizards’ defence was rock solid today as they denied the visitors any chance at scoring though the Ranchi Rays had as many as 12 circle entries. Akashdeep Singh struck another field goal with just seconds to go for the final hooter to win the match 4-0.
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