Mumbai: Skipper Florian Fuchs and striker Affan Yousuf struck a brace each as Dabang Mumbai thrashed defending champions Punjab Warriors 10-4 to register their second win in the fifth season of the HIL, here Friday. The fifth goal for the winners came from India international Nikkin Thimmaiah. All the seven goals which were scored in the game were field goals.
In the opening minute of the match, a reserve flick by SV Sunil for the Punjab team was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper David Harte. The two sides continued playing an aggressive brand of hockey for the next four minutes with attacks and counterattacks.
But it was Thimmaiah, who put the hosts in the lead, by scoring a field goal off a rebound after the flick by Emmanuel Stockbroekx, was saved by Warriors goalkeeper Clemons Tristan. In the 13th minute, Australian Matt Gohdes, ran in from the 25-yard line and beat Mumbai defender Harmanpreet Singh before dragging the ball past Harte to score a magnificent field goal and level the scores 2-2.
With just a few seconds remaining for the half time, Fuchs scored after a prompt by Dutchman Robbert Kemperman.
In the 43rd minute, it was Fuchs show again. This time the German striker, converted a pass from Thimmaiah and dribbled past two Punjab defenders to score with a reverse flick to make the score 6-2.
However, Punjab hit back in the next minute with Arman Qureshi scoring a field goal to make the scoreline 6-4.
In the fourth and the last quarter, it was show by stirker Affan Yousuf, who in two minutes scored two quick goals.
Press Trust of India
