India skipper Harmanpreet Singh delivered a stellar performance to lead Soorma Hockey Club to a dramatic 2-2 (3-1 SO) penalty shootout victory over Delhi SG Pipers in the Hockey India League 2024-25 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on Monday. The win propelled Soorma to second place in the league standings.
After a goalless first half marked by resolute defending and missed chances, the Delhi SG Pipers seized control in the third quarter. Tomas Domene broke the deadlock with a precise strike through Soorma goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch’s legs, putting the Pipers ahead. Moments later, Manjeet Singh doubled their lead, deftly deflecting a cross from Jake Whetton into the roof of the net.
Trailing 2-0 as the final quarter began, Soorma Hockey Club upped the ante. Harmanpreet Singh, who had been relatively quiet, rose to the occasion, showcasing his drag-flick prowess. He struck twice in the final minutes, first slipping the ball through goalkeeper Benjamin Rennie’s legs and then drilling a penalty corner into the bottom right corner to level the score.
The shootout saw Soorma’s Vincent Vanasch emerge as the hero, pulling off three crucial saves to deny the Pipers. Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nicolas Keenan, and Boris Burkhardt converted their attempts for Soorma, securing the victory and a bonus point.
Speaking after the match, Harmanpreet credited the team’s resilience. “We showed great character to fight back. Our focus on penalty corners paid off, and Vincent was exceptional in the shootout,” he said.
The first half saw opportunities for both teams, with Delhi’s Tomas Domene and Soorma’s Maninder Singh testing the goalkeepers. However, neither side could break the deadlock. Delhi dominated possession in the second quarter but struggled to capitalize, as Raj Kumar Pal’s reverse shot and Domene’s drag-flick were expertly stopped by Vanasch.
Soorma began the fourth quarter with renewed intent, forcing multiple penalty corners and ultimately turning the game around through Harmanpreet’s brilliance.
With this win, Soorma Hockey Club gains crucial momentum as they climb to second place in the standings. Delhi SG Pipers, despite their spirited performance, will rue missed opportunities and their inability to close out the game.
The Hockey India League continues to deliver thrilling encounters, and both teams will look to build on this intense clash as the tournament progresses.
