Aussie forward's lion-hearted effort not enough to prevent hosts from repeated defeats in HIL
The Magicians' Glenn Turner celebrates his goal against Delhi Waveriders in the HIL at the MHA-Mahindra Stadium on Saturday. Pic/Suresh KK
Mumbai: If there's one player you tend to feel sorry for in the Mumbai Magicians line-up at the ongoing Hockey India League, it has to be their skipper Glenn Turner. The Australian striker has played his heart out for a team that has failed on most counts ever since the HIL was launched last year.
The Magicians' Glenn Turner celebrates his goal against Delhi Waveriders in the HIL at the MHA-Mahindra Stadium on Saturday. Pic/Suresh KK
Mumbai have lost eight out of nine matches this season and 11 out of 12 last year. It's a situation Turner is obviously not used to being even close to considering the Aussies have dominated almost every opponent in world hockey.
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It's exactly the opposite with the Magicians though. Yesterday, Turner was at his best once again, playing a crucial role in all three goals for his team, before they went down 3-5 to Delhi Waveriders at the MHA-Mahindra Stadium.
Yuvraj Walmiki was at the end of an Akashdeep Singh attempt on the Mumbai goal as the hosts stumbled 0-1 in the very third minute of the match. Seven minutes later, Turner neatly deflected a Bharat Chikara hit into the Delhi goal to restore parity for his team. The Delhites went ahead again a minute later as Rajpal Singh pushed in for 2-1.
Fine solo run
Fresh after the first quarter break, Turner then made a fine solo run down the right flank and relayed an inch-perfect pass to Timothy Deavin right in front of the Delhi goal for a simple tap in for 2-2 (35th min). Delhi, who seemed to be taking it a tad easy as they have already qualified for the semi-finals, then upped the ante and a barrage of goals followed.
Akashdeep first beat Mumbai 'keeper Sreejesh in the 36th minute, after which Rajpal scored his second of the night, connecting a fine one-two pass with Jason Wilson to make it 4-2 (54th min). Four minutes later Delhi drag flicker Rupinder Pal Singh beat Sreejesh to his left with a powerful flick.
Turner though wasn't done yet. He made another powerful run down the right, and earned a penalty corner in the 68th minute. Off the resultant indirect attempt, the strapping Australian deflected home to give the home crowd a rare opportunity to cheer.
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