UP Wizards hand Punjab Warriors third defeat

Jaypee Punjab Warriors' woes continued as they suffered their third consecutive defeat, losing 1-2 to Uttar Pradesh Wizards in a Hockey India League match, in Jalandhar, on Thursday.

The inability to score from the four penalty-corners they forced, and a stroke of bad luck, cost the Jamie Dwyer-led side dearly at the Surjit Singh stadium.

With both the teams locked 1-1, an error by Warriors' goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann handed the lead to the Wizards in the 58th minute and the visitors ensured that there were no last-minute hiccups.

Stockmann, who was outstanding under the bar till then, inadvertently directed a hit of Wizards skipper V R Raghunath into his own goal.

Earlier, Jeroen Hertzberger had put the Wizards ahead in the 17th minute but Dwyer got his team back in the match with a 40th minute strike.

"We seem to not find goals. Also we have conceded three own goals and that is an area of concern," said Dwyer, while referring to the second goal of Wizards.

In their next home match, Punjab Warriors will take on Uttar Pradesh Warriors again on January 22 and Uttar Pradesh Warriors will take on Delhi Waveriders in Lucknow on January 19.