Ranchi Rays beats UP wizards in sudden death 9-8 in the first semi finals of Hockey India league at the Major Dhyan Chand stadium at New Delhi. It was an excellent performance by both teams ending at 1-1 by end of the normal game. It had to be decided via a sudden death.
In the first quarter UP wizards began off to good start. In first 5 minutes a shot was hit but was well saved by Ranchi goalkeeper. In 6.46 UP Wizards asked for a review for penalty corner but the umpire said that there was no reason to change the decision and lost the review. In the 8th minute Ranchi missed a chance. In 13.40 minute Ranchi missed another chance of converting goal. In the last 33 seconds UP Wizards missed a chance of a field goal. At the end of first quarter 0-0.
The 2nd quarter was a fight between Ranchi forward line and UP wizard’s keeper P Sreejesh. In 1.20 minute Ranchi missed a chance of converting a goal. In 3.18 minute UP Wizards striker hit a shot but was well saved by Ranchi Rays goalkeeper. In 5.27 minute Ranchi Rays earned a penalty corner but was well saved by P Sreejesh again. In 5.40 minute Ranchi earned another penalty corner but again saved by UP Wizard goalkeeper P Sreejesh. In 6.05 minute UP Wizards missed ar chance of converting goal. In 6.49 minute Ranchi Rays earned another penalty corner but was well saved by UP Wizards goalkeeper. In 7.50 minute Ranchi Rays earned another penalty corner but asked for a review and umpire decision stood as penalty corner. It was well saved by goalkeeper and cleared by a defense player. P Sreejesh made 3 consecutive excellent saves in 8.10 minute, In 10.40 minute, and 13.10 minute. At the end of 2nd quarter it was 0-0 thanks to P Sreejesh.
The third quarter began well for UP wizards. They missed a chance in the 3rd minute. In 3.22 minute UP Wizards earned a penalty corner and converted the penalty corner into goal to give UP Wizards 1-0 lead. Both teams tried hard, got some chances but were not able to convert the chances. In 12.40 Ranchi Rays was awarded a penalty stroke and Ashely Jackson converted the stroke into a goal to level the score 1-1. In 14.22 minute UP wizards earned a penalty corner but were not able to convert the chance. At the end of third quarter it was 1-1.
The fourth quarter of the game saw some excellent and brisk hockey. In the 9th minute Ranchi Rays tried a goal but was well saved by UP Wizards goalkeeper. In the 13th minute Ranchi Rays goalkeeper made a good save. In the next few minutes they earned 3 penalty corners in succession but did not succeed. They were awarded fourth penalty corner but the Video referral umpire said that it was a free hit. In the last few seconds Ranchi Rays goalkeeper made a good save. At the end of 4th quarter the match ended in a 1-1 draw and therefore entered into penalty shootout.
In sudden death Ranchi Rays scored the first goal with Ashley Jackson, then Hertzberg scoring for UP Wizards, Birendra Lakra missing the goal from a save from keeper , Baart scored the goal to give 2-1 lead. Beale scored the goal to level the score at 2-2 The Ramandeep, Manpreet and Bob De Voogd missed the goal where as Middleton scored the goal to give Ranchi 3-2 lead, Uthappa scored the goal to level the score at 3-3, Ashley Jackson scored the goal to give Ranchi 4-3, then Hertberg scored the goal to square the things at 4-4. It went to sudden death. Beale scored the goal to give Ranchi the lead 5-4, Baart scored for UP Wizards to make it 5-5. Middleton scored the goal to give Ranchi 6-5 lead, Bob de Voogd scored the goal for UP to make it 6-6. Ashley Jackson missed goal off penalty stroke and was equal at 6-6. Uthappa did not score the goal. Birendra Lakra scored the goal to give Ranchi 7-6 lead, Ramandeep scored the goal to equal at 7-7. Ashely Jackson scored the goal to give Ranchi 8-7 lead. Hertzberg scored the goal to level the score at 8-8. Beale scored the goal to give Ranchi 9-8 lead. Then UP wizards missed a chance to give Ranchi Rays a place in the finals.