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| | Gagan Ajit Singh sparkled with a brace as Sher-e-Jalandhar stormed into the final of the Premeir Hockey League after a convincing 3-1 win over former champions Hyderabad Sultans. For title contenders Sher-e-Jalandhar, Gagan scored twice (47 min, 66 min) after spaniard Santi Freixa opened up the lead in the 19th minute. Hyderabad had more ball possession in the first quarter but it was Shers who attacked more waiting patiently for the counters. Freixa put Shers ahead with a powerful backhander after Baljit Dhillon and Tejbir did the initial spadework. Despite dominating with more exchanges and with their forwards Gagan Ajit Singh, Tejbir and Santi Freixa weaving patterns upfront, Shers failed to increase the lead in the second quarter and conceded the equaliser in the third. Hyderabad Sultans' Pakistani star Tariq Aziz intercepted a Harpal pass and put Rajwinder in possession from the middle and the latter found the net without any fuss. However, Hyderabad conceded the lead in the very next minute. After he was fed by Baljit Dhillon, Gagan caught Hyderabad goalkeeper Devesh Chouhan on the wrong foot with a weak reverse-stick shot in the 47th minute. Gagan scored another in the 66th minute when he deflected a fierce backhander from Tejbir. Triple Olympian Baljit, who did a commendable job in the attack, was adjudged Lion of the Day. |
