JSW Soorma Hockey Club secured a semi-final spot with a 1-1 (3-0 SO) penalty shootout victory over Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in their final Pool stage match of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2024-25. The match took place at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.

Soorma Takes Early Lead

From the outset, Soorma displayed a solid defensive setup. The Tigers had the first real opportunity when Sukhjeet launched a counterattack, passing the ball past Soorma’s goalkeeper, Vincent Vanasch. However, Sébastien Dockier could not capitalize on the chance. Gradually, Soorma took control of the game, pushing the Tigers back into their half. This eventually paid off when Victor Wegnez delivered a precise cross, and Gurjant Singh deflected it into the goal, giving Soorma the lead. Towards the end of the first quarter, Soorma won a penalty corner, but Harmanpreet Singh’s shot was blocked by the Tigers’ defense.

Tigers Respond with Aggression

In the second quarter, the Tigers became more aggressive in their approach. Five minutes in, Tim Cross dribbled past defenders and set up Abhishek for a shot, but Vanasch made a crucial save. Meanwhile, Soorma remained composed and moved the ball strategically to create their own chances. Both teams fought hard, but neither could register a shot on target, and the quarter ended in a stalemate.

Tough Battle Continues

The third quarter followed a similar pattern, with Soorma dominating possession. On the other hand, the Tigers relied on counterattacks. The Tigers earned a penalty corner midway through the quarter, but Soorma’s defense held firm. Soorma then earned their own penalty corner, but Harmanpreet’s drag flick went wide of the target. The Tigers pressed again, winning another penalty corner with six minutes left. However, Vanasch made two crucial saves to keep Soorma in the lead. As the quarter ended, the Tigers had more possession, but Soorma’s defense remained solid.

Late Drama Sends Match to Shootout

In the final quarter, Sukhjeet Singh launched a powerful shot from inside the Soorma circle, but his reverse strike missed the target. Soorma quickly responded when Nicolas Poncelet delivered a cross to Gurjant, but Tigers' goalkeeper Jamie Carr made a brave save to deny them. With just four minutes remaining, the Tigers increased their attacking pressure and earned a penalty corner. Jugraj Singh then stepped up and scored with a powerful flick, leveling the score and sending the match into a penalty shootout.

Soorma Shines in Shootout

In the penalty shootout, Soorma remained calm under pressure. Harmanpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, and Victor Wegnez successfully converted their attempts. Meanwhile, Vincent Vanasch made three key saves, securing the victory and an important bonus point for Soorma.

Soorma Advances to Semi-Finals

As a result, JSW Soorma Hockey Club advanced to the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers and Hyderabad Toofans had already secured their spots in the next stage of the tournament.