In a gripping encounter at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Dragons climbed to the summit of the men's Hockey India League (HIL) table with a narrow 3-2 victory over a resilient JSW Soorma Club on Tuesday. The home side, dominant for large periods, had to withstand a fierce late fightback to secure all three points and take pole position with five points.
Dragons Seize Control with First-Half Strikes
The match began with both teams probing cautiously. Soorma held patient possession early, but the Dragons' high press forced goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch into an early save. Clear chances were at a premium until the intensity lifted in the second quarter. The Dragons broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Selvaraj Kanagaraj finished off a precise pass from Chandan Yadav. The momentum swung firmly in the hosts' favour just before halftime as Uttam Singh doubled the lead with a superb reverse hit in the 30th minute, making it 2-0.
Soorma's Spirited Comeback Falls Just Short
JSW Soorma emerged from the break with renewed purpose. Despite winning their first penalty corner in the 36th minute, they couldn't convert until the dying seconds of the third quarter. After a Dragons goal was disallowed, Maninder Singh pounced on a deflection to score with just one second left, cutting the deficit to 2-1 after a video referral. The Dragons responded decisively against the run of play in the final quarter. A brilliant run from Tom Craig set up Blake Govers, who made it 3-1 with a calm finish in the 47th minute.
A Tense Finale Sees Dragons Hold Firm
Refusing to surrender, Soorma captain Harmanpreet Singh, celebrating his birthday, led a furious charge. After several penalty corners, he finally found the net with a powerful drag-flick in the 58th minute to set up a grandstand finish at 3-2. The visitors won two more penalty corners in the tense final minutes, but the Dragons' defence, marshalled by goalkeeper David Harte and captain Amit Rohidas, stood firm under immense pressure to seal a vital win.
The result propels the Tamil Nadu Dragons to the top of the Hockey India League men's standings, while JSW Soorma will rue missed opportunities in a match that showcased high drama and skill until the final whistle.
