Hyderabad Toofans delivered a commanding performance. They defeated JSW Soorma Hockey Club 3-1 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. As a result, they secured a spot in the
Men's Hero Hockey India League 2024-25 final. Now, they will face Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers on Saturday, February 1, at 8:15 PM IST.
A Strong Start by Toofans
Right from the beginning, both teams showed great intensity. In the eighth minute, Toofans won the first penalty corner. Talwinder Singh set up a brilliant play, but he missed connecting with the ball in time. A few minutes later, Mukul Sharma delivered a precise cross to Tim Brand, who deflected the ball towards the goal. However, Vincent Vanasch was perfectly positioned and made a solid save.
On the other hand, Soorma responded aggressively. In the dying seconds of the first quarter, they earned a penalty corner. Captain Harmanpreet Singh fired a powerful drag flick, but Bikramjit Singh reacted swiftly and blocked the shot. Consequently, the first quarter ended goalless.
Toofans Break the Deadlock
Moving into the second quarter, Toofans continued pressing forward. Early on, Gonzalo Peillat took a strong shot, but Vanasch used his right pad to make another crucial save. Meanwhile, Soorma created a chance on the other end. Nicolas Keenan showcased impressive 3D dribbling and set up Gurjant Singh, but Gurjant failed to get his stick on the ball.
Finally, in the 25th minute, Toofans found the breakthrough. Amandeep Lakra received the ball and unleashed a fierce strike. His shot flew past Vanasch and the post defender, giving Toofans a crucial 1-0 lead.
Soorma attempted to respond immediately. Just before halftime, they won another penalty corner. However, Dominic Dixon made two key saves, ensuring Toofans maintained their advantage. As a result, Toofans led 1-0 at the halfway mark.
Toofans Extend Their Lead
At the start of the third quarter, Toofans continued to dominate. In the 32nd minute, Sumit dribbled past defenders and passed to Rajinder Singh. Unfortunately, Rajinder’s shot missed the target.
Nevertheless, Toofans doubled their lead three minutes later. Arthur De Sloover intercepted an aerial pass and launched a quick attack. He passed to Nilakanta Sharma, who delivered a perfect assist to Jacob Anderson. Anderson slid in at the far post and calmly slotted the ball into the net, making it 2-0.
Meanwhile, Soorma Hockey Club struggled to convert their chances. Despite multiple circle penetrations and a streak of penalty corners, they failed to find the net. At one point, their players protested a referee’s decision. Seizing the opportunity, Toofans launched a rapid counter-attack. Consequently, in the 43rd minute, Nilakanta Sharma scored Toofans' third goal. With this, he became the 11th different Toofans player to score this season.
Soorma’s Late Effort Falls Short
As the clock ticked down, Soorma desperately searched for a goal. In the 49th minute, Nicolas Della Torre attempted a drag flick. However, Bikramjit Singh made a brilliant double save, blocking both the initial shot and the rebound.
Later, in the 56th minute, Jeremy Hayward found space and took a powerful strike. But once again, Bikramjit dived to his right and denied the goal.
Even though Soorma won multiple penalty corners in the final moments, they failed to capitalize. Eventually, in the last play of the match, Hayward managed to score a consolation goal. However, it was too late to change the outcome. Hyderabad Toofans had already secured an impressive 3-1 victory.
Final and Third-Place Matches Set
With this dominant win, Hyderabad Toofans will now battle Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for the Hero Hockey India League title. Meanwhile, JSW Soorma Hockey Club will face Tamil Nadu Dragons in the third-place playoff on February 1 at 5:45 PM IST.
