JSW Soorma Hockey Club clinched a narrow 2-1 victory over Delhi SG Pipers in a gripping Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) encounter at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Hockey Stadium on Wednesday night. Early goals from Harjeet Singh and Gurjant Singh proved decisive, as the Pipers’ late fightback fell short.
The match began with JSW Soorma looking to exploit the flanks and apply pressure, but the Pipers held their ground, dominating possession in the initial exchanges. However, Soorma struck first on a counterattack in the ninth minute.
Prabhjot Singh set up Harjeet Singh at the top of the circle, and Harjeet unleashed a thunderous shot past goalkeeper Pawan to open the scoring.
Soorma maintained control in the first quarter, and their dominance carried into the second. Just minutes into the quarter, Gurjant Singh doubled Soorma’s lead with a brilliant individual effort. Picking up the ball at the circle’s edge, Gurjant sidestepped his defender and struck a powerful shot past Benjamin Rennie in goal.
The Pipers responded with a flurry of attempts, as Dilraj Singh and Ky Willott tested Soorma’s defense but failed to find the target. Despite their increasing pressure, the Pipers were unable to breach the well-organized Soorma backline before halftime.
The third quarter saw both teams trading attacks in an end-to-end battle. Soorma nearly extended their lead when Gurjant Singh broke on a counterattack and tried to set up Prabhjot Singh, but Pawan thwarted the chance with a timely intervention. The Pipers came close to scoring through a penalty corner, but Vincent Vanasch made a crucial save to deny them.
The final quarter was a tense affair as the Pipers pushed hard to get back into the game. Their persistence paid off in the 59th minute when Corey Weyer capitalized on a rebound, lofting the ball into the net to pull one goal back. The Pipers surged forward, earning another penalty corner in the dying seconds of the match, but Tomas Domene’s powerful flick was brilliantly stopped by Vanasch.
JSW Soorma held on to secure the victory, showcasing defensive resilience to fend off the Pipers’ late onslaught.
Match Summary:
JSW Soorma Hockey Club 2 (Harjeet Singh 9’, Gurjant Singh 17’)
Delhi SG Pipers 1 (Corey Weyer 59’)
This win solidifies Soorma’s position as a strong contender in the league, while the Pipers will need to regroup ahead of their next challenge.
