Chinese Taipei staged a remarkable comeback to begin their Men’s AHF Junior Cup hockey with a thrilling 4-3 win over Sri Lanka at Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium yesterday.
Even though they fell behind twice, the Taipei players displayed superb temperament to eventually unsettle the Lankans.
Sri Lanka took the lead in the ninth minute after Buddika Peris powered his way through the right flank and paved the way for Kasun Ubesiri to flick the ball into the back of the net.
Taipei though equalised in the 18th minute off a combined attack. Chen Ming ran down the left flank and passed the ball to Wu Po who thumped it past Lankan goalkeeper Ruksan Chamalka.
The islanders, however, restored their lead in the 28th minute when Tanweer Hallaj flicked a Peris angular ball into the Taipei post.
Taipei bounced back to equalise again in the 40th minute and this time it came from a clinical Po finish from their third penalty corner.
Skipper Lu Yu put Chinese Taipei ahead in the 51st minute from their fourth penalty corner after Ming’s push and Ching Hsu’s stop. Lu’s direct hit gave Ruksan no chance whatsoever.
Hsu scored Taipei’s fourth in the 54th minute from a reverse hit off an angular Hunag Yi pass. Three minutes before the finish, Lankan captain Shahid Kuthupdeen reduced the margin from a penalty corner.
Taipei coach Ling Ming Hsian lamented that his charges initially failed to adjust with the pitch that appeared a bit slow.
Sri Lankan skipper Shahid on the other hand termed tiredness as the cause of their downfall.
