Mumbai face Lancers in HIL title clash

DABANG MUMBAI and Kalinga Lancers enteredthefinalsofthefiftheditionofcoalindia Hockey India League by winning their respective semi-finals against Delhi Waveriders and Uttarpradeshwizardsatthesector42hockey Stadium on Saturday.

Table toppers Dabang Mumbai, led by their skipper Florian Fuchs, rode on a 26th minute field goal by Dutch import Robbert Kemperman to beat Delhi Waveriders 2-0 and set up a summit clash with the Lancers in the finals here on Sunday.

Lancers defeated Uttar Pradesh Wizards via penalty shootout after both teams were locked 4-4 as the match went down to the wire. It was only in the sudden death that Lancers won 4-3.

While defending champions Punjab Warriors have already been knocked out of the competition, both Mumbai and Lancers have never won the title earlier. For nearly 20 minutes, both Mumbai and Waveriders playedcautiouslybeforemumbaiearnedtheir first penalty corner four minutes before the half-time. Showing great skills, Mumbai's Dutch import Robbert Kemperman converted the opportunity into a field goal and finally scored with an angular backhanded shot.

Barely a minute after Mumbai had scored, Waveriders failed to convert the chance with Irish import David Harte, who recently won FIH goalkeeper of the year award, standing like a wall.

At half-time, Mumbai were up 2-0. In the remaining period, both teams fought hard, but the scoreline remained unchanged, even thoughmumbaigotafewclosechancestoincrease their lead.