Local favourites Chandigarh Dynamos pipped Bangalore Hi-Fliers 3-2 in the first of the best-of-three-finals to move a step closer to the Premier Hockey League title in Chandigarh on Monday.
Sher Singh (second minute), Rajpal Singh (seventh) and Deepak Thakur (37th) struck a goal each for Dynamos, while Sandeep Michael (13th) and Hari Prasad (69th) hit home for the Hi-Fliers at the Sector 42 stadium.
The Dynamos played better than what the scoreline suggests and maintained an upper hand for a major part of the match.
The action-packed first quarter saw three goals as Chandigarh Dynamos seized the initiative by slamming two goals in the first seven minutes.
A fiery slapshot from Sandeep Singh was flicked in by an alert Sher Singh to leave the Hi-Fliers dumbfounded.
Five minutes later, Rajpal shot home a spectacular goal. After dribbling past two defenders from the right, the Dynamos captain used the reverse stick to double the lead.
The Hi-Fliers reduced the margin through a beautiful field goal.
Tushar Khandekar was nicely fed by Arjun Halappa in a counter-attack and the swift forward outran Dynamos defenders to take the ball from his own half to the rival circle. He then passed to Sandeep Michael, who completed the formalities.
Ace forward Deepak Thakur restored the two-goal lead for the local side in the third quarter.
After receiving a fine pass from Rajpal, he dodged the Hi-Fliers' defence before unleashing a full-blooded drive to find the target.
The fourth quarter, however, was dominated by the Hi-Fliers.
They stepped up the attacks and earned as many as five penalty corners, four of them back-to-back, which all went in vain.
With the clock ticking fast, the Hi-Fliers managed a consolation with Hari Prasad's fluke goal, which did nothing to alter the outcome.
Dynamos skipper Rajpal Singh was adjudged Man-of-the-match.
The second final will be played on Wednesday.
