Team Gonasika secured a crucial 2-1 victory over JSW Soorma Hockey Club at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Tuesday. This win keeps their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive in the Men's Hero Hockey India League 2024-25. Nilam Sanjeep Xess (33’) and Lee Morton (59’) scored for Gonasika, while Pawan Rajbhar scored for Soorma.

First Half: Few Chances and Tight Defense

Both teams started cautiously, with limited opportunities. In the 12th minute, Gonasika’s Lee Morton had a chance, but his shot was saved by Soorma’s goalkeeper, Mohith HS. A minute later, Soorma earned the first penalty corner of the match. However, Yashdeep Siwach blocked Della Torre’s drag flick, preventing any danger. In the final seconds of the first quarter, Gonasika had a penalty corner, but Victor Charlet’s drag flick was also saved by Mohith. Moving into the second quarter, the game remained tight, with neither team testing the goalkeeper much. The best chance came in the 27th minute when Timothee Clement’s deflection from a Morton assist hit the outside of the goalpost.

Gonasika Breaks the Deadlock

After a goalless first half, Gonasika finally broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. Mandeep Singh skillfully held up the ball in the circle before passing it to Nilam Sanjeep Xess on the goal line. Xess then crossed it to Araijeet Singh Hundal, and the ball deflected off a defender’s stick and into the goal. This goal gave Gonasika the lead and momentum. With the goal, Gonasika grew more confident. They launched several attacks, with Morton and Nikkn Thimmaiah particularly impressive. Although Soorma struggled to cope with the pressure, they managed to stay in the match.

Soorma Equalizes

Soorma responded quickly in the fourth quarter. In the 49th minute, Pawan Rajbhar showcased his poaching skills. Nicolas Keenan took a quick free hit on the right of the circle, catching the Gonasika defense off guard. Rajbhar poked the ball past Gonasika’s goalkeeper, Oliver Payne, leveling the match at 1-1.

Late Drama and Gonasika’s Winner

As the match entered the final minutes, both teams pushed hard for a winner. Soorma’s Gurjant Singh missed a golden opportunity, sending a delightful pass from Boris Burkhardt high over the goal. On the other end, Mohith saved Morton’s long-distance shot. Then, in the 59th minute, Morton delivered the decisive blow. He curled the ball past Mohith and into the far corner to give Gonasika a 2-1 lead. Soorma, already down to 10 players due to a green card, replaced their goalkeeper with an outfield player but couldn’t find the equalizer. With this win, Gonasika stays in seventh place with 7 points, while Soorma remains in fifth place with 8 points.