Delhi Waveriders showed Uttar Pradesh Wizards who was the boss by humbling the host team 3-0 in the Hockey India League at the Dhyan Chand Astroturf Stadium here yesterday. Delhi, the only unbeaten team in this edition of the HIL, are on top of the standings with 44 points.
Andres Mir Bel, Simon Child and Gurwinder Singh Chandi were on the scoresheet yesterday for the Waveriders.u00a0The three-goal margin meant that the Wizards were denied even one point from the game.
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Delhi’s win also kept alive Mumbai Magicians’ slender hopes of making it to the semi-finals of the five-team tournament although they trail Wizards by eight points with just two games to play.
Waveriders attacked from early on in the match, earning back-to-back penalty corners in the 10th minute.u00a0The second one saw them go 1-0 up courtesy a Andres Mir Bel strike.u00a0The Waveriders kept up the pressure on the hosts’ goal and their pressure paid off in the 17th minute when they doubled their lead.
They eventually took the game beyond the Wizards courtesy a Chandi strike.u00a0Going into third quarter with a three-goal cushion, Waveriders focused on keeping their shape, and denied Wizards any clear opportunities in that time period.
“We did attack a lot but we could not convert that pressure into into a goal while Delhi got lesser opportunities than us but whatever opportunities they got, they changed into a goal. Delhi’s goalkeeper played very well,” a disconsolate VR Raghunath said at post-match press conference.