JSW Soorma Hockey Club clinched a thrilling 2-1 win against Delhi SG Pipers in the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2024-25. The match, held at Ranchi’s Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium, featured early goals from Harjeet Singh and Gurjant Singh. Although Corey Weyer scored late for Delhi, the Pipers couldn’t equalize.
Early Dominance by JSW Soorma
Right from the start, JSW Soorma set the pace of the game. In the 9th minute, they capitalized on a counterattack. Prabhjot Singh skillfully pulled the ball back to Harjeet Singh, who unleashed a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Pawan. Consequently, Soorma gained the upper hand and controlled the rest of the quarter, even though they couldn’t increase their lead.Gurjant Singh Doubles the Lead
As the second quarter began, Soorma maintained their aggressive approach. Soon after, in the 17th minute, Gurjant Singh showcased his skills by sidestepping a defender and striking the ball past Benjamin Rennie. This goal gave Soorma a solid 2-0 lead. Meanwhile, Delhi SG Pipers attempted to respond with efforts from Dilraj Singh and Ky Wiillot. However, their shots either missed the target or were blocked by Soorma’s defense.A Balanced Third Quarter
Moving into the third quarter, both teams increased their intensity. While Delhi pushed forward with more purpose, Soorma stood firm in defense. The game became an end-to-end battle, with both sides trading circle entries. Towards the end of the quarter, Gurjant created another chance during a counterattack, but Pawan intercepted his pass to Prabhjot. Conversely, Delhi earned a penalty corner but failed to convert it, thanks to a crucial save by Vincent Vanasch.Pipers Fight Back, But Soorma Prevails
In the final quarter, Delhi adopted a man-to-man defense strategy, putting Soorma under pressure. However, Soorma continued to rotate the ball and retained possession effectively. On a counterattack, Phil Roper nearly set up Pawan Rajhbar for a goal, but Rohit from Delhi intercepted the pass just in time. Eventually, Delhi’s persistence paid off in the 59th minute when Corey Weyer scored by lifting a rebound past Vanasch. Encouraged by the late goal, the Pipers earned another penalty corner in the dying seconds. Nonetheless, Vanasch made a decisive save against Tomas Domene’s flick, ensuring Soorma’s 2-1 victory.Key Performers
- Harjeet Singh: Scored a stunning opening goal to set the tone.
- Gurjant Singh: Doubled the lead with a brilliant solo effort.
- Vincent Vanasch: Delivered critical saves to secure the win.