Rourkela, Jan 8, 2025: The Vedanta Kalinga Lancers secured a dominant 6-0 victory over the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, registering their first win of the Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25. Thierry Brinkman (3′ and 47′), Sanjay (6′), Alexander Hendrickx (9′), Nicolas Bandurak (29′), and Boby Singh Dhami (49′) were the goal scorers for the Lancers on Tuesday night.
The match featured two teams at opposite ends of the table, with the Bengal Tigers atop the standings, having won all three of their previous matches. Meanwhile, the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers had lost two and drawn one of their three encounters. However, they turned the tide with this impressive win. The Lancers started off at lightning speed, quickly taking a 2-0 lead within the first four minutes. Thierry Brinkman played a pivotal role, scoring the opening goal and winning a penalty corner that led to the second.
In the third minute, Brinkman made a well-timed run into the circle, receiving a perfect pass from Dilpreet Singh. Despite Bengal Tigers’ goalkeeper Jamie Carr rushing out to block the angle, Brinkman managed to squeeze the ball into the net. A minute later, Brinkman won the first penalty corner, and Alexander Hendrickx’s drag flick was saved by Carr, but Sanjay was quick to pounce on the rebound, slotting it into the net.
The Lancers continued their dominance, scoring a third goal in the sixth minute when Hendrickx’s drag flick found the top corner off another penalty corner.
Before this match, the Lancers had the lowest penalty corner conversion rate in the league, standing at just 16%. Coach Valentin Altenburg would certainly have been pleased with their clinical execution in the opening minutes.
The Lancers came close to adding to their tally, winning a third penalty corner in the 11th minute, but Carr made a solid save to keep Hendrickx’s drag flick out. Although the Tigers enjoyed more possession and had more circle entries, they struggled to create significant chances, with Sukhjeet Singh’s attempt being their only noteworthy effort. In the second quarter, the Tigers tried to make a comeback, earning their first penalty corner, but Lancers’ goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak made key saves to deny Jugraj Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh. Abhishek also fired wide after a rebound, and the Lancers nearly made it 4-0 when Dilpreet Singh’s tomahawk shot hit the post in the 21st minute.
The Lancers got their fourth goal in the 29th minute, with Brinkman again playing a crucial role. He fired a shot toward goal from the left, and Bandurak deflected it past the defender into the net.
The third quarter saw the Tigers’ best chance in the 35th minute when Sukhjeet Singh intercepted the ball and launched a counter-attack. He passed to Affan Yousuf, but Pathak charged off his line to block the shot. The Tigers had another opportunity in the 40th minute, but Pathak made a solid save to deny Jugraj Singh’s drag-flick.
Dilpreet Singh missed a golden opportunity to extend the lead in the 43rd minute, but the Lancers did not have to wait long. Bandurak turned provider in the 47th minute, playing a clever reverse pass to set up Brinkman, who finished with ease, making it 5-0.
Boby Singh Dhami capped off the stunning victory, scoring the sixth goal in the 49th minute with a brilliant tomahawk shot from the edge of the circle that found the bottom corner.
The Bengal Tigers, despite creating a couple of half-chances, failed to threaten the Lancers. The Lancers secured their first win of the season, moving up to fifth place, while the Tigers remained at the top of the table.
Player of the Match, Krishan Bahadur Pathak, commented, “We weren’t strong in defending penalty corners in the previous matches, but we improved today. Our forwards were also clinical in converting chances whenever they entered the circle.”
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