Rourkela, Dec 29: Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers defeated Hyderabad Toofans 3-2 in a nail-bitting match to register their first win at the Hockey India League here on Sunday.
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers scored through Jugraj Singh (9th minute), Sukhjeet Singh (20th) and Affan Yousuf (36th), while Timothy Daniel (41st) and Arthur de Sloover (59th) were the goal-getters for Hyderabad Toofans.
Hyderabad Toofans made the first big attempt at goal when Arshdeep Singh made a swift circle entry to assist Daneil, who was poised in front of the goal post. But he couldn’t connect the ball, thus missing a great opportunity to take the lead.
However, Bengal Tigers made no such mistake when they won a penalty in the ninth minute.
A brilliant injection by Abhishek was beautifully converted by Jugraj, who found the top-right corner of the post to earn his team a 1-0 lead.
Two minutes before the first hooter, the Toofans had a great chance to equalise when they won a penalty corner, but the chance went begging after Gonzalo Peillat’s drag-flick went wide.
Bengal Tigers doubled their lead in the 20th minute via Sukhjeet with a tactful stick-work by Sebastian Dockier and Abhishek doing the rest.
With a 2-0 lead at half-time, the Tigers looked aggressive in their attack and extend the lead in the third quarter.
Tigers struck a splendid field goal in the 36th minute via Yousuf, one of the craftiest strikers in India’s talent pool.
Seconds later, Hyderabad Toofans’ forward Daniel took a brave shot on goal but Tigers’ goalie Carr made a diving effort to keep his team ahead 3-0.
They finally scored in the 41st minute, thanks to some clever thinking by 16-year-old Rohit Singh Erengbam who made a swift cross pass from the left flank to Daniel, who made no mistake in deflecting it past Carr.
Narrowing the lead to 1-3, Toofans looked to bounce back in the last quarter but the Bengal Tigers were vigilant in defence.
There were some tense moments before Toofans could win their fifth penalty cormer in the 59th minute.
A good injection by Talwinder Singh and fierce drag-flick by Peillat saw Arthur de Sloover redirect the flick to the back of the net, further narrowing Tigers’ lead to 3-2. With seconds left on the board, Toofans appealed for another penalty corner but the on-ground umpires turned down the appeal, which led to Bengal Tigers earning three points.
Delhi SG Pipers beat Goansika
On Satuday, Delhi SG Pipers fought back against a gritty Gonasika, beating their rivals 4-2 in a shoot-out after the inaugural HIL match ended 2-2 at the end of regulation time.
Tomas Domene (5th, 39th minutes) converted two penalty corners for Delhi SG Pipers, while Struan Walker (26th) and Victor Charlet (35th) were the goal scorers for Gonasika.
The Delhi franchise started in right earnest, scoring in the fifth minute through a penalty corner when Domene converted the opportunity to perfection. He produced a booming drag-flick that zoomed past Gonasika goalkeeper Oliver Payne to take the early lead.
Led by India international Manpreet Singh, Gonasika tried hard to draw level but were unable to find the equaliser in the first quarter. Gonasika pressed hard in the second quarter and their efforts bore fruit when they drew level in the 26th minute.
Nikkin Thimmaiah’s smart flick hit the upright but the rebound was driven home by Struan Walker.
It was a neck-and-neck fight between the two sides after the change of ends.
Gonasika took the lead in the 35th minute when 31-year-old Victor Charlet scored with a powerful drag-flick from a penalty corner.
However the lead was short-lived as Domene struck again four minutes later, this time via a smart deflection.
Delhi SG Pipers secured another penalty corner in the final minute of the third quarter but Gonasika goalkeeper produced a double save to deny their opponents. (PTI)
