SG Pipers claimed their first victory in the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2025–26 after beating Hyderabad Toofans 2–1 on Monday. The match took place at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium.

Tomas Domene starred for the Pipers by scoring both goals. Goalkeeper Tomas Santiago also delivered a standout performance. For Hyderabad Toofans, Amandeep Lakra scored the lone goal.

Fast Start Gives Pipers Early Control

SG Pipers started the match aggressively and controlled the opening minutes. They earned several penalty corners early on and kept the pressure high.

Their dominance paid off in the eighth minute. Tomas Domene converted a penalty corner with a powerful dragflick to give his team the lead. The Pipers won six penalty corners in the first 15 minutes, while the Toofans failed to earn even one. This highlighted the Pipers’ strong grip on the game.

Hyderabad Toofans slowly settled into the contest. They made five circle entries during the opening quarter. However, they managed just one shot on goal despite enjoying more possession.

Pipers Strike Again Against the Flow

Hyderabad Toofans controlled possession at the start of the second quarter. They pushed the Pipers deep and applied sustained pressure. The Toofans created 12 circle entries, earned four penalty corners, and fired seven shots at goal. Still, they failed to score.

Instead, SG Pipers struck again against the run of play. Roman Duvekot produced excellent build-up play before setting up Tomas Domene in the 29th minute. Domene finished calmly to complete his brace and extend the lead to 2–0 at half-time.

Toofans Fight Back After the Break

Hyderabad Toofans refused to give up and came out attacking in the third quarter. They recorded eight circle entries and earned two penalty corners.

Goalkeeper Tomas Santiago stood firm and made several important saves. However, his resistance finally broke in the 41st minute. Amandeep Lakra converted a dragflick to pull one goal back and keep the Toofans in the contest. The score stood at 2–1 heading into the final quarter.

Santiago Seals the Win with Heroics

The final quarter saw relentless pressure from Hyderabad Toofans. They attacked in waves and searched desperately for an equaliser. The Toofans made 16 circle penetrations and earned six penalty corners.

They also won a penalty stroke, giving them a golden chance to level the score. However, Tomas Santiago denied Zachary Wallace from the spot. The Pipers’ goalkeeper remained outstanding until the final whistle.

In the dying moments, Santiago produced a brilliant double save to protect the narrow lead. His heroics ensured SG Pipers held on and secured their first win of the tournament.