Tamil Nadu Dragons claimed a hard-fought 2-2 (6-5) shootout victory against Vedanta Kalinga Lancers on Friday. The thrilling match, held at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, saw veteran goalkeeper David Harte excel during the shootouts, earning his team a crucial bonus point in Hero Hockey India League 2024-25.
Dragons Start Strong
Right from the start, Tamil Nadu Dragons showed intent. In the very first minute, Thomas Sorsby earned a penalty corner (PC). Subsequently, a video referral led to a re-award, but Jip Janssen’s flick narrowly missed the target. Meanwhile, the Lancers’ forwards—Dilpreet Singh, Gursahibjit Singh, and Angad Bir Singh—created several attacking opportunities. However, their efforts failed to produce a goal, and the first quarter ended in a stalemate.
Lancers Gain the Upper Hand
In the second quarter, the Kalinga Lancers broke the deadlock. In the 24th minute, Alexander Hendrickx delivered a stunning drag-flick, giving his team a 1-0 lead. Shortly after, Angad Bir Singh displayed excellent dribbling skills to win another PC for the Lancers. Unfortunately, poor trapping at the top of the circle wasted the opportunity, and the Lancers entered halftime with a narrow lead.
Dragons Strike Back
After the break, Tamil Nadu Dragons responded quickly. Just 45 seconds into the third quarter, Tom Craig leveled the score with a brilliant tomahawk shot. He capitalized on a loose ball at the top of the circle and smashed it past goalkeeper Krishan Pathak. Nevertheless, the Lancers regained the lead in the 43rd minute when Hendrickx converted another PC, making it 2-1.
Intense Final Quarter
As the final quarter began, the Lancers appeared poised for victory. However, a defensive mistake by the Dragons gave Hendrickx a chance to complete his hat-trick, which he missed. Moments later, Shesha Gowda earned the Dragons a crucial PC. This time, Janssen made no mistake, scoring in the 51st minute to equalize at 2-2. Although the Dragons won another PC shortly after, Krishan Pathak’s incredible save kept the score tied. Consequently, the match headed into a shootout.
Harte’s Heroics Seal the Win
In the shootout, David Harte proved to be the hero. With critical saves under pressure, he secured a 6-5 victory for the Dragons. This win not only gave Tamil Nadu Dragons a vital bonus point but also kept their Hockey India League campaign alive.
Meanwhile, the Kalinga Lancers will reflect on their missed opportunities and aim to bounce back in their upcoming matches.
