The Vedanta Kalinga Lancers finally secured their first win in the Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25. They dominated the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers with a commanding 6-0 victory on Tuesday at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. The goals came from Thierry Brinkman (3rd, 47th minutes), Sanjay (6th), Alexander Hendrickx (9th), Nicolas Bandurak (29th), and Boby Singh Dhami (49th).
Early Momentum
Right from the start, the Lancers took control of the game. Within the first four minutes, they established a 2-0 lead. Thierry Brinkman opened the scoring in the third minute after receiving a sharp pass from Dilpreet Singh. Although goalkeeper Jamie Carr rushed forward, Brinkman calmly slotted the ball into the net.
Soon after, Brinkman earned a penalty corner, which the team converted. Alexander Hendrickx’s initial drag flick was saved, but Sanjay reacted quickly and smashed the rebound into the net. Furthermore, the Lancers increased their lead in the sixth minute when Hendrickx successfully executed another penalty corner, flicking the ball into the top-right corner.
Bengal Tigers Struggle
Meanwhile, the Tigers, who had been undefeated in their first three matches, struggled to respond. Although they had more possession and circle penetrations, they failed to capitalize on their opportunities. Sukhjeet Singh came close but was denied by the Lancers’ defense.
On the other hand, the Lancers nearly scored a fourth goal in the 21st minute when Dilpreet Singh’s powerful shot struck the post. However, they eventually extended their lead in the 29th minute. Brinkman’s cross into the circle was deflected by Nicolas Bandurak, adding to the Lancers’ advantage.
Continued Dominance
In the second half, the Tigers attempted to fight back. They began with some promising penalty corners, but goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak made crucial saves to maintain the Lancers’ clean sheet. Conversely, the Lancers continued their aggressive play. In the 47th minute, Brinkman scored again after a clever pass from Bandurak.
Subsequently, Boby Singh Dhami joined the scoring spree in the 49th minute. With a stunning tomahawk shot from the edge of the circle, he found the bottom corner, making it 6-0 for the Lancers.
A Much-Needed Win
Overall, the Lancers displayed excellent teamwork and execution. They defended well and made the most of their chances. As a result, they moved up to fifth place on the points table, while the Tigers remained at the top.
After the match, Player of the Match Krishan Bahadur Pathak commended his team’s improvement. “We were not good at defending penalty corners in the previous matches, but we improved today. Our forwards were also clinical today as they created chances whenever they made circle entries,” he said.
With this decisive win, the Lancers have gained momentum and are now prepared to tackle tougher challenges in the league.
