s2h team

Two contrasting matches were played on Day 2: While Bengal Tigers overcame  the fighting Hyderabad Toofans 3-2 on the first encounter of the day, the second one between  Soorma and Dragons turned out to be  a run of the mill stuff at the Birsa Munda international hockey stadium, Rourkela. Soorma won the shoot out 4-2 to collect more points than Tamil Dragons after the full time saw them tied.

Match 3:  Soorma Hockey Club beat Tamil Dragons 4-1 on shoot out after both shared two goals in the regulation time. Nathan Ephraums (49’) scored the first goal of the game for Tamil Nadu Dragons in the fourth quarter but Gurjant Singh (54’) quickly equalized for Soorma Hockey Club, ending regulation time as a 1-1 draw.
The game began cautiously, with both teams feeling each other out. Tamil Nadu Dragons gradually found their rhythm, making occasional forays into Soorma territory but failed to produce a shot on target. Soorma’s Gurjant Singh injected some energy into the game, picking up the ball on the right wing, skipping past his marker, and firing a reverse shot but Tamil Nadu Dragons’ goalkeeper David Harte was up to the task, making a crucial save with just four minutes remaining in the quarter. In the dying moments of the first quarter, Victor Wegnez surged into the shooting circle, earning a penalty corner. However, Nicolas Della Torre’s flick went wide, leaving the deadlock unbroken.
Tamil Nadu Dragons’ Thomas Sorsby created the first opportunity of the second quarter by drawing a penalty corner on the counter but Soorma’s defensive unit held firm to avert the danger. Soorma then took control of possession, looking to carve out a clear scoring chance and it was Wengez who threatened to score on the reverse with the half coming to a close but his shot sailed wide. Tom Craig rushed into the shooting circle from a Tamil Nadu Dragons counter attack and stretched to swat the ball on goal but Soorma’s Goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch charged down the shot and the second quarter ended goalless.
Three minutes into the third quarter, Blake Govers manufactured a penalty corner for Tamil Nadu Dragons but Jip Janssen’s flick was off the mark. Nicolas Poncelet responded by earning a penalty corner for Soorma and David Harte pulled off a superb save to deny Harmanpreet Singh. Both teams remained cautious in possession but failed to create more chances and the third quarter ended 0-0.
Soorma created a penalty corner as the last quarter began but Harmanpreet’s drag flick was swatted away by Thomas Sorsby on the line. Soon after, Tamil Nadu Dragons went on to earn a penalty corner of their own and Nathan Ephraums pounced on a save by Vincent Vanasch to find the back of the net and finally break the deadlock. Soorma surged ahead in search for an equaliser and earned a penalty corner with six minutes left in the game. This time it was Gurjant who pounced on a save from David Harte to lift the ball into the net and restore parity for Soorma Hockey Club; forcing the game into penalty shootouts.
Harmanpreet Singh, Victor Wegnez, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Nicolas Keenan scored for Soorma Hockey Club while Vincent Vanasch made two saves to win the match in penalty shootouts.
“I am in a great team, we had a close match but I did my part in the penalty shootouts and we walked away with the win,” Player of the Match Vincent Vanasch said after the match.
Please find attached photos and schedule.

UP Rudras will take on Vedanta Kalinga Lancers in the only match on December 30 at 8:15 PM IST.

Match 2:  Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers and Hyderabad Toofans match went down to the wire on Day 2 of the Hero Hockey India League. Eventually, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers won 3-2, with goals by Jugraj Singh (9′), Sukhjeet Singh (20′) and Affan Yousuf (36′) while Timothy Daniel (41′) and Arthur de Sloover (59′) scored for Hyderabad Toofans.

After the first few minutes went by shaking off the early nerves, Hyderabad Toofans made the first big attempt on goal when Arshdeep Singh made a swift circle entry to assist Timothy Daneil who was poised in front of the goal post. But unfortunately for him, he couldn’t connect the ball – missing a great opportunity to take lead.

However, the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers made no such mistake when they won a PC in the 9th minute. It was a brilliant injection by Abhishek that was beautifully converted by Jugraj Singh, finding the top right corner of the post to earn his team a much-needed 1-0 lead. Two mins before the first hooter, Hyderabad Toofans had a great chance to equalize when they won a PC, but the chance went begging after Gonzalo Peillat’s dragflick went wide.

Building on their momentum from the opening goal, Bengal Tigers doubled their lead in the 20th minute via Sukhjeet Singh. It was tactful stickwork by birthday boy Sebastian Dockier and Abhishek that set up the scintillating goal. Only moments later, Toofans had yet another opportunity to score when they found Pardeep Mor’s foot in the circle to win a PC. Though Peillat made the best of a poor injection by Shilanand Lakra, it didn’t make the net but, in the melee to hold ball possesion, Bengal Tigers gave away a penalty stroke. Unfortunately for the Toofans, Maico Casella’s attempt was stupendously saved by Jamie Carr keeping a clean slate for the Bengal Tigers.

With a strong 2-0 lead at half-time, the Tigers looked to remain aggressive in their attack and extend the lead in the third quarter. Playing to the plans of their Coach Colin Batch, Tigers struck a splendid field goal in the 36th minute via Affan Yousuf, one of the craftiest strikers in India’s talent pool. Only seconds later, Hyderabad Toofans’ forward Timothy Daniel took a brave shot on goal but Tigers’ goalie Carr made a diving effort to keep his team ahead by 3-0.

They finally broke the gridlock in the 41st minute, thanks to 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 this time. Narrowing the lead to 1-3, Toofans looked to bounce back in the last quarter of the match. But the Bengal Tigers were vigilant in their defence.

There was some tense moments before Toofans could win their fifth PC in the 59th minute of the match. A good injection by Talwinder Singh, fierce dragflick by Peillat saw Arthur De Sloover redirecting the flick to the back of the net further narrowing Tigers’ lead to 3-2. It was, in fact, Sloover’s skillful stick work that had helped Toofans win the PC. With seconds left on the board, Toofans appealed for another PC stating stick-foul, but the on-ground umpires turned down the appeal which led to Bengal Tigers bagging three points in their kitty.

“We began very well and it was important stay in lead through the game. This was our first game, and we are delighted with how we performed,” expressed Sukhjeet Singh after being awarded the Player of the Match.