Bangalore Hi-Fliers rode on Tushar Khanderar's goal in extra-time to beat Maratha Warriors in a Tier I match of the Premier Hockey League at the Gachibowli hockey complex in Hyderabad on Friday.
After regulation time of 70 minutes ended goalless, the match was extended to extra-time, when both the sides played with nine men as per the PHL rules, during which Khandekar scored the all-important goal.
The speedy forward got a pass inside the striking circle from Amar Aiyamma and unleashed a powerful reverse flick for the match-winner.
Bangalore Hi-Fliers got two points from the match while Maratha Warriors got one.
The match started on a sluggish note with both the teams looking off-colour and they hardly probed the opposition defence.
But soon after Arjun Hallappa and his men made some valiant bids in the first quarter itself but could not find the target.
Halappa himself wasted the first scoring opportunity when his shot went wide of the goal post.
The Warriors, led by Viren Rasquinha, showed little valour in the initial part of the first quarter and allowed their rivals much leeway, but the men from the south failed to make use of the advantage.
Halappa and Khandekar raided the Maratha striking zone dribbling past the defenders but fumbled at the goal mouth with some wild hits.
The Warriors too had several chances in the second quarter and later but failed to break the deadlock.
