Hayward scores four goals but goal difference eliminates Soorma
Bhubaneswar: Hockey fans witnessed a rollercoaster of emotions in Bhubaneswar today as JSW Soorma Hockey Club delivered a stunning performance but still found themselves out of the title race. In the final group stage match of the Hero Hockey India League, Soorma thrashed SG Pipers with a massive 6-1 scoreline. However, due to goal difference calculations, they fell agonizingly short of the seven-goal victory margin needed to secure a spot in Qualifier 2.
Explosive Start by Soorma
From the very first whistle, Soorma played with a clear mission: attack at all costs. They pushed the Pipers back into their own half immediately. Jeremy Hayward became the star of the show early on. He converted a penalty corner in the opening minutes with a powerful flick to the right corner. Before the Pipers could recover, Hayward struck again, beating goalkeeper Tomas Santiago to double the lead.
The pressure was relentless. With five minutes left in the first quarter, Gurjant Singh set up Lucas Martinez, who calmly slotted the ball into an empty net. At 3-0 within 15 minutes, hopes of qualification were high.
Pipers Hold On
SG Pipers realized the danger and shifted to a defensive strategy in the second quarter to stop the flow of goals. This tactic worked briefly, keeping the scoreboard static. However, the intensity returned in the third quarter. Hayward completed his hat-trick with another thunderous drag flick.
Crucially, the Pipers managed to score one goal through Tomas Domene, which proved to be the turning point. Even though Hayward added a fourth goal via a penalty stroke, conceding that single goal made Soorma's task much harder.
A Frantic Finish
Nicolas Keenan added a late goal to make it 6-1, bringing the team within touching distance of the miracle they needed. In the dying minutes, Soorma launched wave after wave of attacks, but the Pipers’ defense stood firm. Despite the crushing victory, JSW Soorma bowed out of the Hero Hockey India League, while SG Pipers advanced to the next round by the skin of their teeth.
Image Source: Hockey India League
