HIL 5: Kalinga end Mumbai’s unbeaten run

Mumbai: Dabang Mumbai ended their home campaign with their first loss of Hockey India League-5 at the Mahindra Stadium here on Tuesday, going down 3-4 to Kalinga Lancers.

Harmanpreet Singh struck twice, once from a penalty stroke and then off a penalty corner. Kalinga skipper Moritz Fuerste’s twin strikes from penalty corners brought the Lancers on level terms before Glenn Turner scored a field goal to give them the decisive edge.

Mumbai, however, continue to lead the table with 18 points followed by Lancers on 15.

Lancers’ striker Turner dispossessed Harma-npreet early but Danish Mujtaba made a clean tackle to avert danger. Later Lalit Upadhyay made a sharp  attempt but Mumbai goalkeeper David Harte padded it away. Kalinga won their first penalty corner in the eighth minute took it indirectly but Harte came to the rescue again.

Turner wasted a chance in the opening minute of the second quarter when he slipped before making proper contact with the ball. Harte made another save by denying Dharamvir, who shot from the top of the Dee.

Mumbai got a boost after Harmanpreet converted a penalty stroke by scooping it past Andrew Charter in the 27th minute to give the hosts a 2-0 lead after Robbert Kemperman was brought down by Devindar Walmiki.

The Lancers won three penalty corners on the trot immediately after half-time and Fuertse converted the third to reduce the deficit. He was on target again, this time going low as the visitors pulled level.

Turner deflected a long cross from Anand Lakra into goal in the 40th minute to give the Lancers a well deserved 4-2 lead. Harmanpreet reduced the deficit in the 43rd minute.