The Hindu : Sport : Chennai Veerans posts win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 18, 2007
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Chennai Veerans posts win

S. Thyagarajan

Albert Casas slams in a gem of a goal

— Photo: R. Ragu

MATCH-WINNER: Albert Casas, who scored Chennai Veerans's lone goal, makes an attempt in the PHL match against Chandigarh Dynamos on Wednesday.

Chennai: Albert Casas slammed in a gem of a goal to give Chennai Veerans a deserving 1-0 victory over Chandigarh Dynamos in the Premier Hockey League at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Wednesday. The match winner by the Spaniard capped a splendid showing by the Chennai Veerans for which it was the second win in four matches.

Vibrant

Almost throughout the Chennai Veerans, a clear favourite with the big crowd, exhibited a touch of vigour and vibrancy in the workouts. Even in the initial stages, it was evident that the Veerans was having a better of everything. This was largely due to the enterprise and effervescence of the compactly built Albert Casas.

Instrumental in the systematisation of the frontline work was the craft and charm exhibited by V. Raja.

In almost every sally Raja figured prominently ably supported by Somana, mid-fielder Pawal Lakra and wing half Senthil. Lakra should be singled out for praise for the manner in which he controlled the mid field.

The consistency in the attack stressed out the rival defence. Goalkeeper Baljit Singh came under a lot of pressure and effected a nice save from a penalty corner flick by Raghunath.

Notwithstanding the flashy runs by Prabhjot Singh, the Dynamos attack failed to obtain the power and punch required to unsettle the Veerans' defence. However, the attack, which included Deepak Thakur, who was returning to the team after the finger injury and Rajpal Singh, forced three penalty corners in quick succession during the closing minutes of the second quarter. Veerans' goalkeeper Sreejesh effected at least two sparkling saves off the drag flicks from Jugraj Singh.

Aside from this too, Sreejesh proved a tower of strength under the bar, blocking a blinder of a reverse flick from Prabhjot Singh midway in the third quarter. To be fair for Dynamos it must be admitted that the team fought tooth and nail till the final minute. But the Veerans' defence proved resilient enough to smother whatever pressure was brought on it.

Chennai Veerans has enhanced its tally to six points in four matches while the Chandigarh outfit remains at two points from the same number of matches.

The result: Chennai Veerans 1 (Albert Casas) bt Chandigarh Dynamos 0. MoM: Sreejesh (goalkeeper)

Thursday's match: Sher-E-Jalandhar v Orissa Steelers (7 p.m.)

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