Team Gonasika triumphed 4-2 against the Tamil Nadu Dragons in a Pool B match of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2024-25, held at Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela on Saturday. Gonasika’s goals came from Araijeet Singh Hundal (14′), Jack Waller (45′), Tim Howard (50′), and Chandanda Nikkin Thimmaiah (51′). On the other hand, Amit Rohidas (8′) and Tom Craig (56′) scored for the Dragons.
Despite the loss, the Tamil Nadu Dragons remained at the top of the table with 17 points from nine games. Meanwhile, Gonasika stayed in seventh place with 10 points.
Early Lead for Dragons
The match began with Gonasika applying early pressure, earning a penalty corner in the first minute. However, the Tamil Nadu Dragons’ defense held firm, denying them a chance to score. Shortly after, the Dragons shifted to attack and earned a penalty corner. Amit Rohidas stepped up and scored in the 8th minute, giving Tamil Nadu a 1-0 lead.
Gonasika Responds
Determined to fight back, Gonasika equalized in the 14th minute. Struan Walker delivered a perfect pass to Araijeet Singh Hundal, who found space and struck a powerful shot into the net. As a result, the score was 1-1 at the end of the first quarter, setting up an exciting battle for the rest of the match.
Score Remains Level at Halftime
In the second quarter, both teams continued to exchange attacks. Gonasika earned two penalty corners but failed to convert either opportunity. Similarly, Tamil Nadu created a few chances but couldn’t capitalize. Therefore, the score remained tied 1-1 at halftime.
Gonasika Takes the Lead
As the third quarter began, Gonasika stepped up their attacking game. They earned a penalty corner, but Tamil Nadu goalkeeper David Harte made a crucial save. In response, the Dragons upped their attacking intensity, winning two penalty corners in quick succession. However, they were unable to score.
Finally, in the 45th minute, Jack Waller deflected a pass from Manpreet Singh into the goal, giving Gonasika a 2-1 lead.
Gonasika Extends Their Lead
In the fourth quarter, Gonasika quickly extended their lead. Tim Howard capitalized on a perfectly placed long pass from Jack Waller, deflecting it into the net to make it 3-1. Just a minute later, Chandanda Nikkin Thimmaiah finished off a brilliant team move to push the score to 4-1.
Despite the deficit, the Tamil Nadu Dragons fought back, and Tom Craig scored in the 56th minute to narrow the gap to 4-2. However, despite their efforts, Gonasika held on to secure the 4-2 win.
Overall, Gonasika played with speed and precision, using counterattacks effectively to seal their 4-2 victory. Although the Tamil Nadu Dragons pushed hard, especially late in the game, Gonasika’s strong performance ensured the win.