Services striker Suresh Kumar dished out scintillating performance and found an able ally in skipper Adam Sinclair and Spanish import Albert Casas, as Chennai Veerans upset Bangalore Lions with a comprehensive 3-0 victory in the Premier Hockey League at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium in Chandigarh on Tuesday.
Chennai took control of the game in the first quarter with two goals in the space of two minutes. They took the lead in the 14th minute, when Suresh received a ball at the top of the circle and darted to his left and sent a stinging hit towards the right post and Adam deflected from close range.
Two minutes later, Adam was in the thick of action once again but it was Suresh who did the spade work on the right flank before putting the skipper in possession.
Suresh sent a quick and accurate pass to Adam who in turn relayed it to an unmarked Albert Casas. The Spanish star pulled the ball back to sidestep Bangalore custodian Bharat Chetri and scooped into the net.
Chennai rounded off the tally in the last minute of the third quarter with Suresh himself finding the target. This time it was Adam who tapped the ball to Suresh to avoid a charging goalie and Suresh, with an open goal staring at him, just pushed the ball home.
Bangalore made some incisive moves in the last quarter but it was too late.
Suresh was adjudged Lion of the match.
