Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers secured a place in the
Men's Hero Hockey India League 2024-25 final after a thrilling win against
Tamil Nadu Dragons. The semi-final at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela ended in a 2-2 draw. However, the Tigers held their nerve in the penalty shootout, winning 6-5 to seal their spot in the championship match.
Tigers Show Resilience After Early Setbacks
Right from the start, both teams played with intensity. Midway through the first quarter, Tigers’ goalkeeper Jamie Carr made a crucial save to deny Jip Janssen’s drag flick. Just a minute later, Tamil Nadu Dragons created another big chance. Ganesh Majji, left unmarked near the post, attempted to score, but Carr reacted quickly and tackled the ball away.
In the 14th minute, the Tigers won a penalty corner. Jugraj Singh, the second-highest scorer in the league, stepped up. However, Tamil Nadu Dragons’ goalkeeper David Harte made an outstanding save. The Tigers earned two more penalty corners in the final moments of the quarter, but they failed to convert. As a result, the first quarter ended goalless.
Dragons Take the Lead, But Tigers Respond
Soon after, Tamil Nadu Dragons broke the deadlock in the 18th minute. Mohammed Raheel made a brilliant run into the circle and passed toward goal. Nathan Ephraums timed his dive perfectly and deflected the ball past Carr, giving the Dragons a 1-0 lead.
From that moment, the Dragons controlled possession, slowing the game and frustrating the Tigers. The Tigers struggled to create clear chances as Amit Rohidas and his defensive unit stood firm.
Nevertheless, the Tigers remained patient. Finally, in the 30th minute, they found an equalizer. Abhishek dribbled past a defender and faced Harte one-on-one. The goalkeeper rushed forward, but Abhishek cleverly flicked the ball to Pardeep Singh Sandhu, who easily tapped it in. The score was now 1-1.
However, the Dragons quickly responded. Just two minutes into the second half, Anand Lakra dribbled down the right and found Selvam Karthi in the circle. Karthi made no mistake and flicked the ball past Carr, restoring the Dragons’ lead at 2-1.
Things got worse for the Tigers in the 34th minute when Sebastien Dockier received a 10-minute suspension for pushing Tom Craig off the ball.
Tigers Fight Back Again
Despite being a player down, the Tigers did not give up. In the 40th minute, they came close to equalizing. Atul Deep controlled an aerial pass and made a quick move toward goal. Harte rushed out to close the angle, but Atul chipped the ball over him. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the ball struck the post instead of going in.
Even though they were behind, the Tigers stayed disciplined. Their strong defense helped them hold off the Dragons’ attacks and kept them in the game entering the final quarter.
Late Equalizer Sends Match Into Shootout
Finally, in the 53rd minute, the Tigers leveled the score once more. Gauthier Boccard took a quick free hit and sent the ball toward the back post. Atul Deep quickly redirected it to Sam Lane, who flicked it into the net. The score was now tied at 2-2.
A minute later, the Tigers thought they had taken the lead. Jugraj Singh converted a penalty corner, but the Dragons immediately challenged the decision. After reviewing the play, the officials ruled that the ball had not been stopped outside the circle before the shot. As a result, the goal was overturned.
Both teams fought hard for a winner in the closing minutes, but neither side managed to score. The match went into a penalty shootout.
Tigers Hold Their Nerve in Shootout
The penalty shootout was filled with drama. Both teams missed two of their first four attempts. Dockier failed to score for the Tigers, giving the Dragons an opportunity to win. However, Ephraums sent his shot wide, keeping the Tigers alive.
The match then moved into sudden death. Moritz, Govers, and Ephraums scored for the Dragons. Meanwhile, Sukhjeet Singh, Sean Findlay, Florent van Aubel, and Abhishek found the net for the Tigers. In the final moment, Uttam Singh missed his attempt, securing the Tigers’ victory.
Final and Playoff Schedule
Now, the Tamil Nadu Dragons will play in the 3rd/4th place playoff on February 1 at 5:45 PM IST. Meanwhile, the Hero Hockey India League final is set for February 1 at 8:15 PM IST, where the Tigers will compete for the championship.
