HIL 2024-25: Tamil Nadu Dragons force 2-2 draw against UP Rudras to reach semifinals
HIL 2024-25: Tamil Nadu Dragons force 2-2 draw against UP Rudras to reach semifinals
In a straight shoot-out for the last semifinal place, Tamil Nadu Dragons came from behind to hold UP Rudras 2-2 in a tantalising final Hockey India League (HIL) Pool B fixture, and booked its spot here at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.
A point was enough for the Dragons to confirm their place in the top four, but it was made to work hard for it. Rudras won a consolation penalty shootout 3-2.
Starting the game placed fifth, Rudras steamrolled Dragons in the opening quarter, going up 2-0 courtesy of goals from Sudeep Chirmako and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, leaving the side from Tamil Nadu kicking the turf in frustration.
Dragons came out firing in the second half with Selvam Karthi squandering a glorious opportunity with the goal gaping. But Dragons’ pressure paid off from a penalty corner when Blake Govers slid the ball behind to Jip Janssen, who fired his drag-flick low into the corner to give his side a lifeline.
Rudras ‘keeper James Mazarelo made two excellent saves from Janssen but was undone in the final quarter when Thomas Sorsby deflected Govers’ short corner past him to level the score.
In the earlier game, Soorma Hockey Club sealed its place in the semifinal after it played out a 1-1 draw with Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in regulation time with the former winning the shoot-out 3-0.
Tigers, without injured skipper Rupinder Pal Singh, were well off the pace in the opening exchanges, allowing Soorma to capitalise on the lax passing.
In the 10th minute, Jasjit Singh Kular looked to shepherd the ball behind the line inside the circle but Nicolas Keenan sneaked behind him to win the ball and squared it for Gurjant Singh to tap it in.
Tigers finished the game strongly piling on the attack with Jugraj Singh finding the mark with four minutes to go, when he fired it high into the net from a penalty corner to earn a point for his side.
In the semifinals on Friday, Tigers will take on Dragons, while Soorma will face Toofans.
