Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 20: Home franchise Kalinga Lancers will look to open their points tally, when they meet Dabang Mumbai in their second match of Hockey India League-IV at the Kalinga Stadium here Thursday.
Lancers have put pressure on themselves losing their opening home game from a winning position by conceding two last moment goals. They will certainly look to make amends of the mistakes they committed.
“Yes off course we are really unlucky in the last game. We are pretty disappointed. We could have won the match easily. We played three good quarters. But we had to pay for our mistakes at the last moment.” Lancers’ skipper Moritz Furste stated here Wednesday.
“But we have learned from our mistakes and we are pretty confident about our next match against Mumbai. We want to win and get five points. If we play to our potential there is no reason as to why we can’t defeat them,” he added.
Furste stated that the forwards had done a good job in the first game, but the defenders will have to put up an improved show. “We conceded four goals in the last match. So the defenders have to be on their feet,” stated the skipper.
Coach Mark Hager is also expecting his wards to put up a better display in their second game. “It’s a new team and they will take time to settle down. I hope for a better show Thursday,” stated Hager.
Talking about the opposition, Furste said that Mumbai are a very strong unit and have some outstanding players. “We have to watch out for my German teammate Florian Fuchs upfront. He is probably the best forward in the world now. Their captain Matthew Swann, is a really a good midfielder with exceptional defensive skills. They have very good penalty corner specialists. So we have to be very careful that we don’t concede too many penalty corners,” he signed off.
On the other hand Dabang Mumbai already have had a few good training sessions here. “We finished at the bottom in 2015. We want to revive our fortunes this time and look for a positive start against the Lancers,” said the newly-
appointed coach Jay Jason Stacy of Australia.
Walmiki, Minz injured
Kalings Lancers’ midfielder Devinder Sunil Walmiki and Dabang Mumbai’s forward and Oriya player Roshan Minz have sustained injuries during the training sessions.
“Devinder got a nasty blow on his head Wednesday with a stick. He has received four stitches, but he is expected to play,” informed Lancers’ physio Mukti Prasad Das.
