JSW Soorma Hockey Club triumphed 3-2 over Tamil Nadu Dragons to secure the Bronze medal in the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2024-25 at Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium. With the win, Soorma earned a prize of Rs 1 crore. Gurjant Singh (12′), Harjeet Singh (19′), and Prabhjot Singh (57′) scored for Soorma, while Blake Govers (15′) and Jip Janssen (59′) found the net for the Dragons.

First Quarter: A Cautious Start

Both teams started with caution, focusing on ball control and quick passing. The Tamil Nadu Dragons had a penalty corner in the 10th minute, but Jip Janssen’s shot went wide. Shortly after, in the 12th minute, Soorma took the lead when Gurjant Singh received a pass from Jeremy Hayward and scored. Soon after, Soorma earned another penalty corner, but Harmanpreet Singh’s attempt was deflected out.

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Dragons Equalize: 15th Minute Counter

The Dragons quickly responded with a counter-attack in the 15th minute. Karthi Selvam maneuvered past defenders and passed to Blake Govers. Govers dived and slotted the ball past Soorma goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch to equalize.

Second Quarter: Soorma Regains Lead

Soorma regained the lead in the 19th minute when Harjeet Singh was left unmarked in the circle. He chipped a deflected pass from Gurjant over the Dragons’ goalkeeper to make it 2-1. Soon after, Soorma earned another penalty corner, but Harte saved Hayward’s powerful shot aimed at the bottom right corner.

Soorma’s Pressure: Strong Defensive Stance

Soorma continued to press forward, creating multiple circle penetrations. In the final minute of the first half, Soorma won three consecutive penalty corners, but Harte’s excellent goalkeeping and the Dragons’ solid defense kept the score at 2-1 at halftime.

Third Quarter: Dragons’ Aggressive Attacks

The Dragons came out strong in the third quarter, attacking relentlessly and putting Soorma’s defense under pressure. Meanwhile, Soorma earned three penalty corners in quick succession but failed to convert any of them. Despite the aggressive play, neither team scored, and the quarter ended goalless.

Final Quarter: Soorma Extends Lead, Dragons Fight Back

In the final quarter, both teams created numerous scoring chances. With just over five minutes remaining, Soorma earned their eighth penalty corner, but Harmanpreet’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh. Shortly after, Gurjant Singh made a brilliant run, dribbling past defenders, and set up Prabhjot Singh for a simple finish to make it 3-1.

Late Drama

Late in the match, the Dragons earned a penalty corner in the final minute. Janssen scored with a powerful shot to cut the deficit to 3-2. However, despite the drama, Soorma held on for the win, securing the Bronze medal.