A brilliant brace by Didar Singh fashioned Hyderabad Sultans' 2-0 victory to stop the winning streak of local favourites Chandigarh Dynamos in the Premier Hockey League in Chandigarh on Friday night.
Sultans' midfield, comprising Vikram Pillay, Nitin Kumar and Sardar Singh, controlled the game. They assisted the attack with Vikram being the fulcrum in the middle and a hardworking Sardar Singh moving all over the field to help the forward line as well as falling back to support the defence.
The trio was also instrumental in not allowing the rival defence to send those dangerous long balls on which Dynamos attacks depended.
The home side had a setback in the 12th minute when they lost the services of Jugraj Singh, who was hit on the face during a penalty-corner defence.
Sultans surprised the Dynamos with an early raid and earned their first penalty corner in the third minute.
Nitin Kumar made a good stop and gave it to Didar Singh with Dilip Tirkey selling a perfect dummy. With the first runner dashing to Tirkey, Didar found enough space to send a powerful drag flick to beat goalkeeper Baljit Singh to take the lead.
In the 12th minute, Hyderabad earned their second penalty corner and another drag flick by Didar Singh hit Jugraj Singh on the goalline with umpire Shakeel Qureshi awarding a penalty stroke.
However, to the dismay of Hyderabad Sultans, he referred the decision to third umpire after Dynamos protested, and reversed the verdict to a penalty-corner.
Hyderabad missed two more penalty-corners but took control of the match and held on to the narrow lead.
Dynamos forwards Rajpal Singh and Deepak Thakur were off colour and the forwards were starved of the passes.
Hyderabad sealed the issue in the 67th minute with a brilliant field goal by Didar Singh. Didar's younger brother, Sardar Singh initiated the move from the right flank and gave the ball to Didar outside the circle. The wily sardar dribbled past a defender and from a narrow angle beat goalkeeper Baljit Singh and shot into the far corner. (2-0)
After four matches, Hyderabad have five points while Dynamos remain on nine.
