CHENNAI: Contrary to the flattering 4-1 scoreline, Chennai Cheetahs were fully tested by Bhopal Badshahs before registering their maiden win at home in the World Series Hockey here on Tuesday. Importantly, Cheetahs has consolidated their third-place perch on the table, even as Badshahs goalkeeper Baljit Singh’s manful efforts went in vain.
For nearly three quarters, Baljit was an irremovable blockade the Cheetahs couldn’t barge, as he made a slew of saves to deny Imran Warsi. The former national goalkeeper, who sustained an injury to his right-eye in 2009, which stalled his international career, palmed off the first of Warsi’s four attempts in a bizarre five-minute spell early in the second quarter, wherein Cheetahs won four penalty corners in succession. The second and third were wasteful — all power and no placement —while Baljit warranted his left-palm to thwart the fourth. Off-balanced, on one knee, he negated the rebound too.
This was after contest got off to a rousing start when both sides scored a goal apiece inside five minutes in the opening quarter. Though Cheetahs’ defence held on rather efficiently in that span, a momentary lapse in the third minute endowed the visitors with the lead, as Waseem Ahmad dinked in a cross from the right by skipper Sameer Dad. But the advantage was negated as Imran Warsi extended his tally to 15 goals in the tournament in the seventh.
Cheetahs’ frustration only swelled as Baljit again foiled Warsi’s flick, this time directed straight at him right into the third passage. Nonetheless, there seemed no another goal-scoring outlet other than Warsi. For all the toil in the midfield, a field goal seemed ever so elusive, and Vikram Pillay’s continued absence didn’t serve their case either. Warsi’s exit towards the end of second quarter — accidentally stuck on the eye — further dented the hosts’ aspirations. Explicably, they made a mess of a short-corner granted early in the third quarter, shortly after which Warsi returned to the turf.
But in rather heated circumstances, Cheetahs earned lead at the stroke of the third quarter. Warsi’s flick seemed to have brushed the defender — the ball thus deviating from its course - stationed almost parallel to Baljit. After replays, the umpires granted a penalty stroke, which Vikram Pillay seized with a crisp shot to the right corner. The replays weren’t quite conclusive, and the decision was marginal. That was the contest’s turning point, as Badshahs lost their grit thereafter. Adam Sinclair’s strike in the 62nd minute — off a penalty corner rebound — put the match beyond Badshahs’ grasp, thus exacting a sweet revenge. Pillay’s second — in a similar fashion — was but an embellishment.
