Soorma Hockey Club snapped a two-match losing streak in the Hockey India League (HIL) with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Shrachi Bengal Tigers at the Birsa Munda International Stadium on Monday. The win, propelled by stellar defensive efforts and crucial goals from Prabhjot Singh and Maninder Singh, keeps Soorma in sixth place, trailing Shrachi, who remain fourth on the points table.
The match began with Shrachi dominating possession and creating early chances, but veteran goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch was a formidable barrier in Soorma’s goal. Affan Yousuf, in particular, saw three goal-bound efforts in the first half thwarted by the Belgian shot-stopper, whose acrobatic saves kept the Tigers at bay. In one standout moment, Vanasch denied both Affan and Jaskaran Singh in quick succession, showcasing his reflexes and positioning.
Despite being on the defensive initially, Soorma capitalized on their first significant chance in the 21st minute. Prabhjot Singh latched onto a pass and smashed the ball past the Shrachi goalkeeper to give his side a crucial lead. This goal shifted the momentum, and Soorma began to grow into the game.
Seven minutes later, Soorma earned a penalty corner, and although their star drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh was off the field, Nicolas Della Torre stepped up. His flick was blocked, but Maninder Singh reacted quickly to score on the rebound, doubling Soorma’s advantage before halftime.
The second half saw Shrachi intensify their efforts, especially in the third quarter. Piling on the pressure, they earned a series of penalty corners, eventually breaking through in the 39th minute. Jugraj Singh’s powerful drag-flick squeezed past Vanasch and a defender on the line, giving Shrachi a lifeline.
The Tigers continued to press, earning another penalty corner shortly after, but Vanasch produced another brilliant save to deny Jugraj and preserve Soorma’s lead. The final quarter saw end-to-end action, but Soorma’s defense, anchored by Vanasch and the returning Harmanpreet Singh, held firm to secure the victory.
Match Summary:
Shrachi Bengal Tigers 1 (Jugraj Singh 39′) lost to Soorma Hockey Club 2 (Prabhjot Singh 21′, Maninder Singh 28′).
With this win, Soorma Hockey Club breaks their losing streak and regains confidence in the league, while Shrachi Bengal Tigers will need to regroup after missing key chances.
