Sher-e-Jalandhar showed tremendous resilience as they beat Bangalore Hi-Fliers 2-1 in the Tier I match of the Premier Hockey League in Hyderabad on Saturday.
The Jalandhar side, which had lost its opening encounter against Hyderabad Sultans, came under constant pressure from the opponents in the third and fourth quarters but the defense stood firm to give the team crucial three points.
Baljeet Singh Dhillon (13th) and Prabhjot Singh scored for the winners while Arjun Halappa scored the consolation goal in the 21st minute for the Hi-Fliers.
After an action packed start with both the teams shifting to attacking mode, Baljeet Dillon beat the Bangalore custodian on a penalty corner to put his side ahead.
Halappa levelled the scores eight minutes later on a penalty stroke awarded for an infringement by Sher-e-Jalandhar custodian Kamaldeep Singh.
However, Prabhjot made a probing run from the left flank on a counter attack and his reverse hit left the opponent goalkeeper stranded.
The play started with a fast paced attack led by Gagan Ajit Singh, Baljeet Dillon and Daljit Singh piercing into the Hi-Flier's arena and Arjun Halappa, Amar Aiyamma and Tushar following it with a similar raid on the opponents citadel.
After Jalandhar took the lead, the Hi-Fliers made amends to their style and Halappa, after Bangalore custodian thwarted the penalty corner, took the ball to opponent's goalmouth but failed to find the mark.
It was in the early part of the second quarter that a penalty stroke was awarded to the Hi-Fliers by the referee after the Jalandhar custodian fouled and Halappa made no mistake to level the score.
The Gagan Ajit Singh-led team then stepped up the tempo and Prabhjot made some forceful forays into the Hi-Fliers danger zone.
The Banglorean side lost one more opportunity to go ahead when Tushar Khandekar failed to tap the pass by Arjun from very close to the goalmouth while Jalandhar defenders retrieved the ball and Prabjot Singh dodged past three defenders closing in on him to smash it home with a reverse hit.
Though the Hi-Fliers continued to launch meaningful attacks on the opponent's goal in search of an equaliser they faltered on numerous occasions inside the striking circle with Tushar Khanderkar being the culprit atleast thrice.
Khandekar once missed the ball completely on a cross from Sandeep Michael in the third quarter and on the other two occasions failed to connect properly when he had only one defender to beat on the goal line.
The Hi-Fliers, who had penalty corner expert Len Aiyappa in their ranks, also missed to take advantage of the four penalty corners that came their way.
