ROURKELA: Fans came in numbers to watch the first game of Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League but they went back home disappointed as UP Rudras came from behind to beat the home favourites 3-1 at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Monday.
Lancers took the lead in the first quarter itself when Enrique Gonzalez scored a field goal in the 13th minute and then controlled most of the match. But following a lot of hard work, Rudras equalised in the 45th minute through Kane Russell and made it 2-1 five minutes later.
Ironically, it was Odisha's Sudeep Chirmako who scored the second after Lars Balk played the ball into the D. Chirmako, standing near the top of the semicircle, did really well to connect with the cross and it should have been kept out by Krishan Bahadur Pathak. But the India goalkeeper was taken by surprise and his last-minute dive wasn't enough to keep it out.
Then with just eight seconds left, Rudras won their third PC and Russell scored his second of the night to make it 3-1. Since Lancers had pulled out their goalkeeper early on, Russell had no trouble converting it.
Earlier, UP Rudras began the game on a positive note and made several circle penetrations within the first few minutes. But halfway into the first quarter, the game turned on its head and it was Lancers who started dominating the game.
They created numerous chances, and it was Gonzalez who eventually broke the deadlock. Boby Singh Dhami made the run down the right and gave an inch-perfect pass from near the baseline to Gonzalez, who calmly put it into the net.
The goal gave the Lancers a huge boost and they tried their best to double their lead. But Rudras goalkeeper James Mazarelo pulled off some brilliant saves to keep the scoreline unchanged.
While not much happened in the second quarter, Rudras did their best to equalize in the third and were able to achieve it when they won their first PC with just 39 seconds left on the clock. Russell went for the bottom-right corner and despite doing his best Pathak wasn't able to keep it out with his outstretched legs.
It completely changed the momentum of the game as Rudras scored two more in the final quarter to start the league on a victorious note.
