A brilliant golden goal by Sandeep Singh gave Chandigarh Dynamos a 3-2 victory over Bangalore Lions in the second final of the Premier Hockey League at the Sector 42 hockey stadium in Chandigarh on Tuesday.
Lions had won the first final on Monday.
Dynamos, who rallied brilliantly twice in the match, pushed the issue into extra-time as the Lions survived some tense moments but managed to ward off sustained pressure in the silver-goal period.
But Dynamos continued to call the shots and weaved patterns upfront in the second half of extra-time, for the golden goal, and earned a penalty-corner with a minute to go for the hooter. Sandeep Singh sent a powerful flick into the goal to ignite celebrations in the packed stands.
In regulation time earlier, Bangalore Lions took control of the midfield after initial hiccups as Dynamos missed two close chances, including a penalty-corner.
After overcoming these tense moments, the Lions hoisted the lead through a brilliant turn-over and took control of the proceedings.
In the ninth minute, Arjun Halappa sent a long pass from his own defence on the right flank to put Rehan Butt in possession at the 25-yard line. Butt took a defender in his stride and found Tushar Khandekar, at the top of the circle, who wasted no time and sounded the board with a cracking shot that had rival goalkeeper Baljit Singh stranded.
Chandigarh Dynamos restored parity in the 45th minute from their third penalty-corner when Sandeep Singh sent a low flick into the right corner.
Thereafter, Lions controlled the midfield and had a better share of possession though both teams missed chances.
Early in the fourth quarter, Bangalore Lions shot ahead again with another brilliant field goal. Khandekar set up the goal with a good move on the right in the 59th minute, when Sabu Varkey received the ball on the right flank and dribbled towards the corner flag before sending a defence-splitting cross into the goalmouth. Dynamos' goalie Baljit Singh padded the ball but Rehan Butt drove the rebound into the net. (2-1)
However, Dynamos struck the equalizer with four minutes to go for the hooter to push the match into extra-time.
Tejbir Singh stole the ball in the circle and darted down the goalline and flicked it into the goalmouth and a diving Deepak Thakur slapped the ball in.
