WHIL: Odisha Warriors advances to final; Delhi signs off with shootout win

Delhi SG Pipers signed out of the inaugural edition of the Women's Hockey India League (WHIL) with a shootout win over Odisha Warriors at Ranchi on Thursday. 

Odisha also became the first team to enter the final of the WHIL, having secured a point from the shootout. 

The Pipers meanwhile, will end their tournament in the league stage, with five points from six matches. 

Delhi started the match on the front foot, but throughout the first half, despite seeing more of the ball, they were unable to create any clear-cut chances. 

But it changed in the 28th minute when Preeti Dubey's driving run into the Odisha circle resulted in a penalty stroke for Delhi, which was converted by their skipper Navneet Kaur. 

Odisha came out in the second half all guns blazing, and subsequently after a period of sustained attack, won and converted a penalty corner, thanks to Yibbi Janson's powerful drag flick. 

With no more goals coming in regulation time, the match went into a penalty shootout, where both teams failed to score their first shot. 

Katilin Nobbs gave Odisha the lead in the shootout but was quickly equalized by Ishika. 

Delhi took the lead in the shootout thanks to Navneet Kaur but once again, things got back on level terms after Baljeet Kaur successfully converted her penalty. 

Sunelita Toppo gave Delhi a 3-2 lead, and Freeke Moes, needing to put her penalty away, was not able to, giving Delhi a win. 

Odisha will now await their opponent in the finals, and it is all to play for in tomorrow's final league game between Soorma Hockey Club and Bengal Tigers.