The Sri Lankan Men’s Field Hockey team registered their second win at the 2018 Asian Games against Indonesia in a cracker of a game.
Click here for photos of Sri Lanka vs Indonesia
The Lankan stickers were placed in ‘Pool A’ of the Men’s Hockey event at the Asian Games along with 5 other dominant nations in field hockey. After getting off to a shaky start against Japan and Korea, Sri Lanka made a thundering comeback winning their last two encounters against Hong Kong and the host nation, Indonesia.
After a goalless first quarter, the two teams were on par with each other’s strengths, with both goalkeepers putting up a stellar performance saving several shots at goal. Double scorer for Sri Lanka in their match against Hong Kong, Sandaruwan Priyalanka opened scoring for his side in the 23rd minute.
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The third quarter brought Indonesia their 1st and only goal of the match through forward Wahid Hakim, when he converted a penalty shoot in the 37th minute. Their equalizing goal celebrations was short lived as Lankan defender Dhammika Ranasinghe, stepped in for a penalty conversion in the 41st minute.
With an agitated Indonesian camp, Ranasinghe managed one more goal off a penalty conversion, in the 53rd minute. Ranasinghe had multiple shots at goal, which was saved by the Indonesian Goal keeper, denying him of a hat trick.
Captain Lahiru Weerasooriya expressed his views on the victory.
With 2 wins and 2 losses, Sri Lanka are currently placed 4th in their group of 6, with 9 points in total.
Sri Lanka will face India in their final group stage match on the 28th August at the GBK Hockey Field.
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