Wizards end home assignment with a win

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Wizards defeated Dabang Mumbai 3-2 in their last league assignment at home to emerge on top with 30 points in the Hockey India League.

The Thimmaiah twins, Nithin and Nikkin, stood out by scoring for their side along with Harjeet Singh. For Mumbai, Vikas Pillay and Glenn Turner were on target.

This being their last match on home turf, the V Raghunath-led side was expected to do well, but were off to a slow start. Mumbai got to work right away with Pillay sounding the board as early as the eighth minute of the first quarter (1-0). It was Nithin who restored parity a minute before the lemon break from the left flank (1-1).

Desperate to notch up a win to keep their hopes alive of an outside chance to make it to the semifinals, Mumbai’s repeated efforts paid off as Turner dodged past Wizards’ custodian PR Sreejesh to put his side in the lead again (2-1).

The goal at the stroke of the third quarter shocked the small gathering at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium but Harjeet pounced on a powerful hit from the centre-line and deflected it in to level scores in the 55th minute.

A draw loomed large but 29 seconds from the hooter, Nikkin angled in a cross from Jeroen Hertzberger to bring smiles back for the Wizards.

THE THIMMAIAH TWINS, NITHIN AND NIKKIN, STOOD OUT BY SCORING FOR THEIR SIDE ALONG WITH HARJEET SINGH. FOR MUMBAI, VIKAS PILLAY AND GLENN TURNER SCORED.

RESULT: UP Wizards 3 (Nithin Thimmaiah 29th, Harjeet Singh 53rd, Nikkin Thimmaiah 60th) bt Dabang Mumbai 2 (Vikas Pillay 8th, Glenn Turner 44th)