Soorma Hockey Club secured a 1-1 (4-1 SO) victory over Tamil Nadu Dragons in the Hero Hockey India League 2024-25 at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. They earned the bonus point after a thrilling penalty shootout following a tense match.
Cautious Start
The match began slowly, with both teams cautiously testing each other. Tamil Nadu Dragons made a few attempts but couldn’t land a shot on target. Meanwhile, Soorma’s Gurjant Singh created the first real chance, but Tamil Nadu goalkeeper David Harte was quick to make a crucial save. In the dying moments of the first quarter, Soorma earned a penalty corner, but Nicolas Della Torre’s flick went wide, leaving the score tied.
Second Quarter Action
As the second quarter began, Tamil Nadu’s Thomas Sorsby earned a penalty corner on a counter-attack, but Soorma’s defense held firm. Soorma then took control of possession and looked for scoring opportunities. Victor Wegnez nearly scored with a reverse shot, but his attempt sailed wide. On the counter, Tamil Nadu’s Tom Craig rushed into the shooting circle, but Soorma’s goalkeeper, Vincent Vanasch, was there to deny him.
Third Quarter Stalemate
In the third quarter, Tamil Nadu earned another penalty corner, but Jip Janssen’s flick went off target. Soorma responded with a penalty corner of their own, and David Harte was there to save Harmanpreet Singh’s shot. Both teams remained cautious in possession, with neither creating further chances. Consequently, the score remained 0-0 as the third quarter ended.
Final Quarter Drama
The final quarter saw the action pick up. Tamil Nadu broke the deadlock when Nathan Ephraums capitalized on a save from Vincent Vanasch, giving Tamil Nadu a 1-0 lead. However, Soorma quickly responded. They earned a penalty corner, and Gurjant Singh pounced on a save from David Harte to equalize for Soorma. This led to a dramatic penalty shootout.
Penalty Shootout Victory
In the penalty shootouts, Soorma’s Harmanpreet Singh, Victor Wegnez, Vivek Sagar Prasad, and Nicolas Keenan all scored. Goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch made two crucial saves, ensuring Soorma’s victory.
Vincent Vanasch’s Praise
After the match, Player of the Match Vincent Vanasch expressed his thoughts: “I am in a great team, we had a close match but I did my part in the penalty shootouts and we walked away with the win.”