Uttar Pradesh Wizards beat Ranchi Rays 4-0 in HIL

Uttar Pradesh Wizards defeated Ranchi Rays 4-0 in the Coal India Hockey India League (HIL) at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium here on Thursday

Seve Van Ass scored the field goal in the 37th minute to hand the hosts a vital lead after Akashdeep Singh found the back of the net in the 60th minute to make it 4-0.

Both teams started the match on a attacking note but none of them could score in the first quarter.

But in the dying minutes of the first quarter, Shamsher Singh of Wizards, got the first chance to take the lead through Ramandeep Singh's pass but the former failed to meet the ball and as a result he missed the lone opportunity of scoring the first goal.

The second quarter witnessed Wizards playing more attacking hockey and in the process, they were rewarded with several Penalty corners but drag-flicker Gonzalo Peillat and V.R. Raghunath failed to step up to the occasion and missed the chances.

Both teams headed in to half time with scoreboard reading 0-0.

The hosts led by experienced Raghunath ensured they got off to a fine start in the third quarter when Van Ass struck a stupendous field goal in the 37th minute to take a 2-0 lead.

The final quarter saw some upbeat action with Wizards coming up with clever play by trying to hold the possession for as long as possible, not allowing Ranchi an opportunity to counter attack.

Ranchi, who looked flat in the middle, tried many different things to score and they also got several half chances to score the goal but failed to convert any of them.

In the process, Wizards sharpened their attack and as a result they scored another field goal in the dying minute of the game.

Akashdeep scored the goal in the 60th minute to give the hosts a comfortable victory.

--IANS

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