HIL: Rarh Bengal Tigers beat Delhi SG Pipers to book semi-final spot

The Rarh Bengal Tigers booked their spot in the semi-finals of the 2024-25 Hockey India League following a 2-1 win over the Delhi SG Pipers at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Monday.

Rupinder Pal Singh (55') and Sebastien Dockier (59') found the net for the Tigers, whereas Tomas Domene (27') scored the lone goal of the match for the Pipers.

The Delhi SG Pipers started off well in the match, putting constant pressure on the Tigers defence early on in the match. However, it was the Tigers, who had the first real chance in the match in the fourth minute but they were denied by a good save from goalkeeper Benjamin Rennie.

The Pipers earned a penalty corner in the tenth minute but the drag flick soared over the post as the scoreboard remained untouched in the first quarter.

The second quarter was rather sedate with multiple turnovers in the midfield from both teams. However, it soon picked up pace as Abhishek received a ball from Dockier at the edge of the circle and took a shot on the reverse only for Rennie to pad it away.

Seconds later Dockier came on a brilliant run on the left flank and crossed the ball in, but the Tigers' forwards were a bit too late to the scene and the chance went begging.

However, the Delhi SG Pipers made no such mistakes two minutes later. Domene stole the ball in the midfield and passed it to Lucas Toscani, who returned it back to him in the circle.

Domene slotted the ball into the roof of the net to put the Pipers ahead as they headed into the half-time break with a one-goal advantage.

The second half started with some high drama as the Rarh Bengal Tigers had their goal disallowed. Sukhjeet Singh slotted the ball in from a tight angle but the Pipers immediately asked for a review.

The replays showed that Sukhjeet had hit the ball from back of the stick and the TV umpire advised to overturn the goal.

The Tigers took charge from there on, looking for an equaliser. But it was the Pipers, who earned a penalty corner in the 42nd minute only for a Corey Weyer drag flick to be deflected away as they maintained their advantage heading into the final 15 minutes of play.

The Rarh Bengal Tigers earned a penalty corner in the 50th minute but Jugraj Singh's drag flick did not have enough venom to trouble the Delhi SG Pipers defence. Four minutes later, Dockier touched the ball with back stick inside the circle as a promising move from the Tigers was cut short.

However, the Tigers were handed a penalty corner just a minute later and they made it count this time around. The injection went to Jugraj in the second battery, who smartly pulled the ball back to Rupinder Pal Singh in the first.

The Indian veteran took his own sweet time to take a couple of steps and drive the ball into the net all along the ground to help the Tigers draw level.

The Pipers seemed to be jolted and soon lost their way. Around four minutes later, Gursewak Singh entered the circle from the right and crossed the ball in.

Dockier, inside the circle, smartly lost his marker and slotted the ball in to put the Tigers in lead for first time in the match with under two minutes left.

There was no coming back from this point for the Delhi SG Pipers, who become the first team in the Hockey India League history to finish their campaign without a single win.

The Tigers, meanwhile, moved to the top of the table and booked their spot in the semi-finals.