HIL: Bengal Tigers beat Delhi SG Pipers and qualify for semis, JSW Soorma defeat Kalinga Lancers in goal fest

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HIL: The Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers clinched a last-minute 2-1 victory over Delhi SG Pipers to secure a spot in the Hockey India League 2024-25 semifinals, while JSW Soorma Hockey Club triumphed in a high-scoring encounter, defeating Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 5-3 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela.

The match saw the Tigers overturn a deficit in the final minutes to eliminate the Pipers from semifinal contention. Delhi SG Pipers struck first in the 27th minute when Tomas Domene unleashed a powerful reverse hit into the top corner, leaving Tigers' goalkeeper Jamie Carr with no chance.

The Pipers held onto their lead until the final stages of the match. However, Bengal Tigers mounted relentless pressure, which paid off in the 55th minute when captain Rupinder Pal Singh converted a penalty corner with a precise drag flick.

In the dying moments of the game, Gurswak Singh charged into the circle and delivered a pass to Sebastien Dockier, who deftly deflected the ball into the net in the 59th minute, sealing the Tigers' triumph and sending their fans into jubilation.

In the second game of the evening, JSW Soorma Hockey Club delivered a commanding 5-3 comeback victory against Vedanta Kalinga Lancers. The Lancers took an early lead through Dilpreet Singh in the fifth minute, but Soorma responded strongly. Harmanpreet Singh played a pivotal role, assisting Prabhjot Singh's equalizer in the 26th minute and converting two penalty corners in the 32nd and 54th minutes.

Harmanpreet also set up Nicolas Keenan for a thunderous tomahawk goal in the 33rd minute, while Maninder Singh added another in the 51st. The Lancers found late goals through Thierry Brinkman in the 44th and Gursahibjit Singh in the 56th minute, but they couldn't match Soorma's firepower.

With this result, Bengal Tigers advanced to the semifinals, while JSW Soorma moved to third in the standings, intensifying the competition as the HIL progresses.

Results:

• Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 2 (Rupinder Pal Singh 55', Sebastien Dockier 59') bt Delhi SG Pipers 1 (Tomas Domene 27')
• JSW Soorma Hockey Club 5 (Prabhjot Singh 26', Harmanpreet Singh 32', 54', Nicolas Keenan 33', Maninder Singh 51') bt Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 3 (Dilpreet Singh 5', Thierry Brinkman 44', Gursahibjit Singh 56')