Hockey
HIL: Soorma Hockey Club brush past Rarh Bengal Tigers for three points
Prabhjot Singh and Maninder Singh scored as Soorma Hockey Club beat Rarh Bengal Tigers.
Soorma Hockey Club celebrate a goal against Rarh Bengal Tigers (Photo credit: Hockey India League)
Soorma Hockey Club beat Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 2-1 in a high-voltage match here in the 2024-25 Hero Hockey India League held at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Monday.
Goals were scored by Prabhjot Singh (21'), and Maninder Singh (28'), while Jugraj Singh (39') scored the lone goal for the Tigers.
The first quarter got off to a rollicking start with both teams playing with great pace and intensity. They made some fine forays into their respective striking circles which led to a flurry of PCs but neither of them could convert successfully.
With no goals coming in the first quarter, the second quarter saw both the teams up their ante in attack.
It was finally JSW Soorma, who broke the deadlock, and none other than their star Harmanpreet Singh who set up the first goal of the match with his trademark aerial ball which was accurate to the T.
Receiving the ball in the top of the circle, Maninder Singh did very well to control the ball, turned around to take a reverse shot. The shot, though, not the best set up Prabhjot Singh, who tapped it in. The goal had the sparsely present Rourkela fans on their feet.
The 21st minute goal gave the right momentum for the Punjab and Haryana-based unit to set up another goal. This time it was off a PC, picked up well by Nicolas Della Torre but it was well saved Tigers goalie Jamie Carr.
Though Gurjant was quick to pick up the rebound, Carr saved it again. Maninder lurking in front of the post picked the second rebound and deflected into the post fetching the match-winning goal for Soorma in the 28th minute.
The Bengal Tigers bounced back in the third quarter when they won a crucial PC in the 39th minute. Drag flick expert Jugraj Singh was on-target, finding the corner of the post beating Carr quite convincingly.
While this goal narrowed the lead to 1-2, it wasn't enough to stop Soorma from romping home to a victory as the final quarter saw tough fight between the two teams but Soorma defenders held sway.
This was a significant win for Soorma Hockey Club as it was only their second outright win in the league and with phase II underway now, they need to win every game to stay in contention for the play-offs.
