Both teams to meet in women’s HIL final again
Ranchi, Jan 6: Shrachi Bengal Tigers held their nerve to edge past SG Pipers in sudden death shootout after a goal-less draw in regulation time and enter the women’s Hockey India League final here on Tuesday.
Both teams will meet again in the summit clash on Saturday.
The Pipers had already qualified for the final even before coming into this match, courtesy of their notable lead at the top of the points tally.
In a repeat of their previous meeting, the contest followed an identical script, with the match going down to sudden death and the Tigers emerging victorious to secure a crucial bonus point and confirm their place in the summit clash.
The opening quarter witnessed an end-to-end contest as both SG Pipers and Shrachi Bengal Tigers went head-to-head with early attacking exchanges.
The Tigers earned a penalty corner inside the opening three minutes but were unable to make the opportunity count.
SG Pipers then took control of possession, moving the ball swiftly and creating multiple circle entries to test the Tigers’ defence.
Despite the early momentum and chances at both ends, neither side could break the deadlock, as the first quarter ended goalless at 0-0.
Shrachi Bengal Tigers put the SG Pipers’ defence under early pressure in the second quarter, launching a series of attacks and earning a penalty corner. However, the Pipers’ goalkeeper Bansari Solanki was in fine form, producing multiple brilliant saves to deny the Tigers.
Despite sustained pressure and prolonged spells around the Pipers’ circle, the Tigers were unable to find a breakthrough, with the score remaining goalless at 0-0 at the half-time break.
The Tigers started the third quarter with relentless pressing and soon created a golden opportunity when Vandana Katariya surged into the circle and unleashed a powerful close-range shot, only to be denied by a fine save from SG Pipers goalkeeper Bansari Solanki.
The Tigers continued to probe the Pipers’ defence with sustained attacks but were unable to find the breakthrough.
SG Pipers also mounted a couple of attacking moves of their own, though without reward, as the third quarter ended with the score still locked at 0-0.
The Tigers went close once again early in the fourth quarter when their captain Lalremsiami found herself with only the goalkeeper to beat, but an in-form Bansari Solanki produced a timely save to keep the scores level.
The Tigers continued to apply pressure with repeated circle penetrations, but SG Pipers managed to hold firm defensively. In the closing minutes, the Pipers stepped up their attacking intent but were unable to create a clear-cut opportunity. With just eight seconds remaining, Shrachi Bengal Tigers earned a late penalty corner and a chance to snatch victory, but they failed to convert, forcing the match into a shootout as regulation time ended in a goalless 0-0 draw.
In the shootout, only Purnima Yadav and Noor de Baat were on target for Shrachi Bengal Tigers, while SG Pipers responded with successful conversions from Juana Castellaro and Kaitlin Nobbs, resulting in a 2-2 tie.
The deadlock pushed the contest into sudden death, where the Tigers held their nerve to convert all five of their attempts, while the Pipers managed four from five.
The shootout victory earned Shrachi Bengal Tigers a crucial bonus point and confirmed their place in the title match, where they will face SG Pipers once again.
Tamil Nadu Dragons top HIL table
Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons moved to the top of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) table with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over JSW Soorma Hockey Club at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Egmore, on Tuesday. Dominant for much of the match, the Dragons were pushed to the limit in the closing stages as Soorma mounted a late fightback, but the hosts held firm to claim an important win.
Selvaraj Kanagaraj (28’), Uttam Singh (30’) and Blake Govers (47’) scored for the Dragons, while Maninder Singh (45’) and captain Harmanpreet Singh (58’) kept Soorma in contention until the final moments.
The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when Selvaraj Kanagaraj finished cleanly after a well-timed pass from Chandan Yadav on the right. The goal gave the Dragons momentum, and they struck again just before halftime. Uttam Singh doubled the lead in the 30th minute with a fine reverse hit to make it 2–0, moments after Soorma’s Gurjant Singh was shown a green card.
The closing seconds of the period brought drama as Nathan Ephramus goal for the Dragons was disallowed for a backstick. From the resulting free hit, Harmanpreet sent a lofted ball into the circle, and a deflection fell to Maninder Singh, who fired home with just one second left. After a referral, the goal stood, reducing the deficit to 2–1.
Dragons’ Tom Craig made a superb run from deep and slipped a precise pass to Blake Govers, who calmly finished in the 47th minute to make it 3–1.
Harmanpreet finally converted in the 58th minute with a powerful drag-flick to make it 3–2. (PTI)
