Hockey India League 4: Rupinder brace seals Delhi’s thrilling win

Drag-flicker Rupinderpal Singh pumped in two penalty corner goals as Delhi Waveriders opened their campaign with a 5-4 victory over Jaypee Punjab Warriors in a closely-contested Hockey India League-4 match here on Wednesday.

Rupinder struck in the 24th and 36th minutes while Canadian Mark Pearson scored from another penalty corner in the 28th minute after Yuvraj Walmiki had given Delhi the lead in the ninth minute via a field goal, which was counted as two under the new tournament rules.

For the Warriors, Matthew Gohdes scored a field goal in the 10th minute before Christopher Ciriello (29th minute) and Mark Gleghorne (54th) found the target from penalty corners.

The Warriors beat defending champions Ranchi Rays in their opener here on Tuesday, while the Waveriders were playing their first match of the tournament.

The Delhi team went ahead in the ninth minute through a brilliant reverse hit from Walmiki but the home side struck back in the next minute through a Gohdes’ field goal as the first quarter ended 2-2.