Hockey India League 2024-25: Tamil Nadu Dragons grabs shootout win against Kalinga Lancers

Hockey India League 2024-25: Tamil Nadu Dragons grabs shootout win against Kalinga Lancers

Local favourite Kalinga Lancers suffered yet another shootout heartbreak, going down 6-5 in sudden death to Tamil Nadu Dragons after the teams were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation time in the eighth game of the Hockey India League here on Friday.

With both teams having suffered shootout setbacks in their respective opening games, they would have wanted to avoid it, and while the Lancers did look like it would finally get a regulation win under its belt, Tamil Nadu came from behind twice to first stretch the game into penalties and then take the bonus point for its first win of the competition.

With some of the top drag-flickers in their ranks, it was clear early on that both teams were aiming to earn as many penalty corners as they could, with Tamil Nadu drawing first blood with back-to-back PCs in the very first minute but was unable to score. That was done by Alexander Hendrickx, finally converting Lancers’ fourth PC in the 24th minute, putting one past David Harte.

The Dragons regrouped and came back with a bang, Tom Craig making full use of a defensive blunder by Arthur van Doren immediately on resumption of play. Van Doren failed to control the ball at the edge of the circle, and Craig pounced on it, stepping in and smashing a reverse hit into the board.

An advantage awarded by the umpire after his shot was saved in the 43rd minute saw Hendrickx step up to smash in the rebound, and it looked like Kalinga would finally get full points, but Jip Janssen at the other end had other ideas, bringing his team level again as Tamil Nadu upped the ante in the final quarter.

Then it all came down to the shootout, which extended into the sudden death where Dragons prevailed over Lancers. 

Tamil Nadu Dragons 2 (Tom Craig 31, Jip Janssen 51) bt Kalinga Lancers 2 (Alexander Hendrickx 24, 43) on penalties (6-5).