Hockey India League 2024-25: UP Rudras clinches 3-1 comeback win against defending champion Kalinga Lancers
Hockey India League 2024-25: UP Rudras clinches 3-1 comeback win against defending champion Kalinga Lancers
The promised winter nip finally made an appearance, the crowds packed in the warmth on a working evening, but neither could help as Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, technically the home side and the sole survivor from the previous edition, finished 1-3 on the losing side against UP Rudras in the Hockey India League here on Monday.
The game was much closer than the result indicates, with the teams matched for large parts in every department. Having put its faith in a combination of experienced overseas players and talented Indian youngsters, Kalinga started strongly and earned several chances early on. The juniors in the attack – Angad Bir Singh, Boby Singh Dhami, and Dilpreet Singh – were impressive with their passing and sense of positioning, but lack of experience did them in.
They still managed to go ahead when an unmarked Spaniard, Enrique Gonzalez was put through by Dhami in the 13th minute. A minute later, the team’s only penalty corner saw UP goalkeeper James Mazarelo bringing off back-to-back saves to deny Kalinga. It allowed UP to breathe easy and gradually build up its attacks, moving up and taking control of the game and the scoring opportunities.
UP had made its plans clear in the auction – the team was built around Hardik Singh, and the Indian midfielder was key to its fortunes. He stepped up to the demands, consistently troubling the opposition everywhere – finding gaps from the middle, creating chances upfront, and falling back to assist the defence. With youngsters Gurjot Singh, Jobanpreet Singh and Sudeep Chirmako running tirelessly, the UP side’s patience in the attack paid off. However, it still had to wait till the 45th minute to finally break past Kalinga’s and Krishan Pathak’s stubborn defence, with Kane Russell converting the team’s first PC.
Pathak continued to fend off the attacks, but UP, by now, had the momentum and four minutes later, Chirmako doubled its lead. With Kalinga taking off the goalkeeper in a desperate attempt in the last couple of minutes, Russell managed one more eight seconds from time to seal the deal.
UPR 3 (Kane Russell 45, 60) bt VKL 1 (Enrique Gonzalez 13).
