Uttar Pradesh Wizards and Jaypee Punjab Warriors finished 2-2 to register the first draw of the second edition of Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) at the Dhyan Chand Stadium here today.
It was a free-flowing contest between two evenly-matched teams. The game was a treat for the fans as both the sides produced some thrilling end-to-end hockey.
Even though the UP Wizards had the better share of ball possession, there was very little to differentiate between the two sides.
The goalkeepers of both UP Wizards (George Bazeley) and Jaypee Punjab Warriors (Jaap Sotckmann) had a busy day in office as the two teams played attacking hockey throughout the entire 70 minutes.
The Wizards started on an aggressive note and earned a penalty corner early but skipper V R Raghunath flicked the ball straight to Jaypee Punjab Warriors goalkeeper Stockmann. But it was Jaypee Punjab Warriors who took the lead as early as in the sixth minute through Jake Whetton's field goal after he was set up by S V Sunil.
Jaypee Punjab Warriors' joy, however, was shortlived as the Wizards drew level six minutes later. David Alegre (12th minute) equalized for the visitors from a rebound after Stockmann denied Luke Doerner from a penalty corner.
Both the teams got two more scoring chances in the opening half in the form of penalty corners but failed to convert the opportunities.
Tied at 1-1, Jaypee Punjab Warriors had the first shot at goal after halftime, again in the form of a penalty corner, but their star dragflicker Sandeep Singh was not upto the mark.
The Warriors surged ahead once again when Satbir Singh (50th minute) scored with a forehand shot in the third quarter after he was set up by Simon Orchard and Whetton's fine work from the right flank.
But the Wizards did not give up hope and pressed hard in search of the equalizer and managed to draw level four minutes later through S K Uthappa (54th), who slapped home from close range Alegre's pass.
