Hockey India League: Tamil Nadu beat UP Rudras 2-0; Soorma HC pip Kalinga Lancers in 7-goal thriller

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The Tamil Nadu Dragons and Soorma Hockey Club secured vital wins in the Hero Hockey India League on Sunday -- January 5. While Tamil Nadu Dragons overpowered UP Rudras 2-0 with goals from Abharan Sudev and Thomas Sorsby, Soorma HC edged Kalinga Lancers 4-3 in a nail-biting seven-goal thriller.

In the opening match, Soorma HC relied on goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch's brilliance to triumph over Kalinga Lancers. Despite the Lancers' relentless attacks, including 26 circle penetrations and nine shots, Soorma HC capitalized on key moments.

Goals from Jeremy Hayward (11'), Nicolas della Torre (35'), Harmanpreet Singh (50'), and Harish Somappa (52') sealed the victory. Kalinga Lancers struck first with Thierry Brinkman scoring in the 5th minute, showcasing his dribbling finesse. Sanjay (30') and Gursahibjit Singh (50') added goals, keeping the home side in contention. However, Vanasch's sensational saves, including a last-minute penalty stroke denial, proved decisive. Harish Somappa's opportunistic goal in the 52nd minute eventually tilted the scales in Soorma HC's favour.

In the second game, Tamil Nadu Dragons delivered a tactical masterclass against UP Rudras. While the Rudras started brightly with 14 circle penetrations and three penalty corners by the end of the third quarter, Tamil Nadu's defense, led by captain Amit Rohidas, held firm. Rohidas, alongside goalkeeper David Harte, consistently denied UP's drag-flick specialist Kane Russell and forward Sam Ward.

The breakthrough came in the 48th minute when Abharan Sudev capitalized on a rebound from Nathan Ephraums' strike to slot home the opening goal. The Dragons doubled their lead in the final seconds as Thomas Sorsby finished clinically after a swift counterattack.

UP Rudras had opportunities to level the score, including two penalty corners in the dying minutes, but Rohidas' fearless defensive runs and Harte's solid goalkeeping ensured a clean sheet. Tamil Nadu's win, their first outright victory of the season, moved them to third in the standings.

Both matches showed the drama and unpredictability of the league. While Soorma HC's attacking firepower and Vanasch's heroics set the tone for their campaign, Tamil Nadu Dragons' defensive resilience and timely goals reaffirmed their growing confidence. As the Hero Hockey India League unfolds, the intensity promises more action-packed contests ahead.