HIL | Kalinga Lancers script a sensational comeback win

Kalinga Lancers goalkeeper Toby Reynolds-Cotterill pulls off a save.
| Picture Credit score: R.V. MOORTHY

Goalkeeper Toby Reynolds-Cotterill saved thrice in penalty shootouts as Vedanta Kalinga Lancers made a gorgeous comeback to pip Delhi SG Pipers in an action-packed high-scoring Pool-A thriller of the Hockey India League on the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium right here on Sunday.

As the lads’s league entered its second section, Lancers rode on Alex Hendrickx and Thierry Brinkman’s braces to erase a three-goal deficit as the 2 sides have been locked 5-5 within the regulation interval. Lancers received the shootout 3-2 to document their fourth win and make 1000’s of dwelling followers blissful, whereas Pipers suffered their seventh consecutive defeat.

Lancers performed raids from the left and earned a brief nook within the thirteenth minute. Hendrickx flicked low to place the host forward.

The second quarter abruptly switched in Pipers’ favour because the Graham Reid-coached aspect transformed 4 penalty corners within the area of 5 minutes.

Following Jarmanpreet Singh’s sensible effort, Tomas Domene drag-flicked excessive to equalise.

The Argentinian scored one other, giving Pipers the lead by capturing dwelling a low and angled flick to Krishan Pathak’s left.

Corey Weyer discovered Pipers’ third objective off a rebound beating Pathak on the suitable.

Pipers made it 4-1 as Koji Yamasaki jumped to faucet in one other rebound and helped Pipers retain their benefit on the midway stage.

Brinkman slammed in off a free ball contained in the circle to tug one again quickly after the change of ends.

Amid a tough tussle and heated exchanges, Dilraj Singh completed off Domene’s glorious circle entry from the suitable to attain Pipers’ fifth.

Lancers, served properly by Antoine Kina and Boby Singh Dhami up entrance, refused to surrender.

They pumped in three targets inside seven minutes of the fourth quarter to make a sensational comeback. Fast passes from exterior the ‘D’ and deflections enabled Lancers to fit in two by Brinkman and Angad Bir Singh. Hendrickx utilised Lancers’ sixth brief nook to take it to the shootout.

The outcome: Pool A: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 5 (Hendrickx 13, 52, Brinkman 35, 47, Angad Bir 49) drew with Delhi SG Pipers 5 (Domene 18, 20, Weyer 21, Yamasaki 23, Dilraj 37); Lancers bt Pipers 3-2 by way of shootout.