JUBILANT: Orissa Steelers players are ecstatic after Roshan Minz's first strike in the second final on Sunday. — Photo: Akhilesh Kumar

CHANDIGARH: Roshan Minz came up with precise reverse hits to help Orissa Steelers beat Sher-e-Jalandhar 2-1 in the second final and keep the summit clash alive in the Premier Hockey League at the Sector 42 Stadium here on Sunday.

The `Lion of the Day', was the easily the live-wire in the team as he helped Steelers recover from 0-1 at halftime, with goals in the third minute of the second half and another with two minutes left for the final hooter.

The brilliant effort ensured that a decisive third final would be played on Monday, as the Jalandhar had won the first match in a dramatic tie-break on Friday.

Except for the goal in the sixth minute of the second quarter, when Tejbir Singh capitalised on a delectable cross from Baljit Singh Dhillon with a sharp deflection, it was Orissa Steelers that dominated the show.

Long time coming

The problem with the Orissa team was that the athleticism, hard work and skilful play, did not fructify into a deserving goal for long, perhaps because the team lacked the conviction in its own abilities to find the goal.

Pushed to a situation where it seemed its domination of the league was about to go waste, the Steelers showed remarkable urgency to break loose.

In pursuit of a goal

The fact that the team forced as many as six penalty corners emphasised its willingness to shrug off that defensive attitude and sprint ahead in pursuit of that elusive goal.

Off the team's third penalty corner, when skipper Dilip Tirkey's two successive shots were blocked competently by the Jalandhar defence, the unassuming Roshan Minz bulged the net with a smart reverse hit that caught the defence napping.

Odd spells of attack

The Jalandhar team was not that alert or perhaps under-estimated its opponent, as there were only the odd spells of attack.

The lackadaisical suited Steelers as the team struck the match-winner when everyone was expecting the match to meander into extra-time.

With the whole team attacking as one, Roshan Minz struck a telling blow after squeezing through the defence.

It helped Steelers live to fight another day.

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