Hockey India League: Kalinga Lancers thrash Bengal Tigers to assert 1st win
The Vedanta Kalinga Lancers claimed their first victory of the Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 in emphatic trend, dismantling table-toppers Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 6-0 on the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Tuesday. Targets from Thierry Brinkman (3’, 47’), Sanjay (6’), Alexander Hendrickx (9’), Nicolas Bandurak (29’), and Boby Singh Dhami (49’) propelled the Lancers to a much-needed win.
Heading into the match, the Tigers had been unbeaten of their first three video games, sitting atop the standings. In distinction, the Lancers had struggled with two losses and a draw. Nonetheless, the house aspect turned their fortunes round with a dominant efficiency. The Lancers made a blistering begin, racing to a 2-0 lead inside 4 minutes. Thierry Brinkman opened the scoring within the third minute, skillfully ending after being arrange by Dilpreet Singh. Moments later, Brinkman earned a penalty nook, and though Alexander Hendrickx’s preliminary drag flick was saved, Sanjay pounced on the rebound to double the lead.
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Hendrickx then discovered the highest nook with a exact drag flick within the sixth minute, making it 3-0. This marked a major enchancment for the Lancers, who had struggled with penalty nook conversions earlier within the match. The Tigers struggled to capitalise on their possession and circle penetrations, with Sukhjeet Singh offering their solely significant try within the opening levels. The Lancers, in the meantime, continued to pile on the strain, although Carr’s efforts in aim stored the scoreline from worsening earlier than the top of the primary quarter.
Within the second quarter, the Tigers got here near decreasing the deficit, incomes their first penalty nook. Nonetheless, goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak produced a collection of spectacular saves to disclaim Jugraj Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh. On the different finish, the Lancers had been denied by the put up as Dilpreet Singh’s fierce tomahawk shot cannoned off the woodwork. The fourth aim got here within the twenty ninth minute when Brinkman fired a cross into the circle, and Nicolas Bandurak deflected it previous the protection into the online.
The Tigers had a uncommon alternative within the third quarter when Sukhjeet Singh launched a counterattack, however Pathak as soon as once more thwarted Affan Yousuf’s try. Pathak was excellent all through, together with an important save towards Jugraj Singh’s drag flick within the fortieth minute.
The Lancers’ fifth aim arrived within the forty seventh minute, with Bandurak establishing Brinkman, who darted alongside the aim line earlier than slotting the ball previous Carr. Two minutes later, Boby Singh Dhami accomplished the rout with a superb tomahawk strike from the sting of the circle. Regardless of a number of half-chances, the Tigers failed to bother the Lancers, who secured their first win of the season and climbed to fifth within the standings. The Tigers, regardless of the loss, stay on the high of the factors desk.
