Ranchi Rays trailing till 59th minute of the game not only equaled in the last minute but also registered a thrilling win with a last second goal by Ashely Jackson by 3-2 over Jaypee Punjab Warriors at the Mohali Stadium this evening. Ranchi Rays were trailing till the last minute and two goals helped them win the match. Japyee Punjab dominated the match but missed one too many penalty corners for their own good.
In the first quarter Punjab began off to a good start. Jaypee Punjab dominated the play with some excellent hockey. They earned the first penalty corner in the 9th minute. Cirello converted the penalty corner into a goal to give Jaypee Punjab a 1-0 lead. The home team put pressure on Ranchi Rays and succeeded to earn another penalty corner in the 15th minute. Sandeep Singh converted this penalty corner into the goal to give Jaypee Punjab Warriors a 2-0 lead. At the end of first quarter it was 2-0 in favor of Jaypee Punjab Warriors.
The second quarter also saw excellent hockey by Jaypee Punjab Warriors but they missed too many chances. In the 11th minute Ranchi Rays earned a penalty corner. Ashely Jackson converted the penalty corner into the goal to reduce the margin to 2-1. Jaypee Punjab Warriors too earned two consecutive penalty corners but were not able to convert the chances into goal. At the end of second quarter it was 2-1 in favor of Jaypee Punjab Warriors.
In the 3rd quarter Ranchi Rays played some aggressive hockey. Ranchi Rays earned first penalty corner of quarter in the 6th minute but did not convert the chance into goal. In the 8th minute Jaypee Punjab Warriors made a defense save. In the 10th minute Ranchi Rays made an excellent save and again in 13.38 minute the Ranchi Rays goalkeeper made another excellent save. At the end of 3rd quarter status quo was maintained at 2-1 in favor of Jaypee Punjab Warriors. Until this quarter the ball was in possession of the Punjab team for two thirds of the time.
The fourth quarter was most exciting hockey of the match. In 3.15 minute Punjab missed a chance of field goal. In 3.27 minute Ranchi Rays earned a penalty corner, and immediately felt that they earned another one too but the umpire gave it as a free hit instead of penalty corner. In 3.57 minute Ranchi Rays earned one more penalty corner but did not succeed in converting in to a goal. In 4.48 minute Jaypee Punjab asked for a video umpire for penalty corner and the decision stood as a penalty corner. In 5.01 minute Jaypee Punjab earned another penalty corner, 8 seconds later they earned another penalty corner both of these chances went a begging. In 6.07 minute Jaypee Punjab earned another penalty corner which was deflected out by Barry Middleton. In 9.27 minute Jaypee Punjab forwarded raided the goal buy the shot was well wide of goal post. In 10th minute Jaypee Punjab keeper made an excellent save. In 12.49 minute Ranchi Rays was awarded a penalty stroke but Jaypee Punjab Warriors asked for review and umpire decision stood. In 14.17 Ranchi Rays asked for a review of a foul to penalty corner and the umpire decision stood. Ashely Jackson converted the penalty corner into goal to level up at 2-2. In the last second Ranchi Rays asked for review to penalty corner. Jaypee Punjab Warriors keeper saved it the first time, second time also and third time tackled in a wrong way giving another penalty corner to Ranchi Rays. Ashely Jackson scored the goal to help Ranchi win by 3-2.