Dragons secure victory after intense regulation time draw with Pipers
Hockey fans witnessed an absolute spectacle in the Men's Hockey India League (HIL) as the Tamil Nadu Dragons overcame the SG Pipers in a nail-biting encounter. Following a pulsating 4-4 deadlock in regulation time, the Dragons held their nerve to win the penalty shootout, securing a vital bonus point in the process.
Rohidas Sparks Early Lead
Action started fiercely with SG Pipers dominating possession early on. However, the Tamil Nadu Dragons struck first. Odisha’s own defensive stalworth and team skipper, Amit Rohidas, converted a penalty corner in the 9th minute to put his side ahead. While the Dragons thought they had doubled their lead moments later, a video referral overturned the goal.
SG Pipers responded quickly. Tomas Domene found space in the circle to equalize in the 13th minute, ending the first quarter at 1-1.
Goals Rain Down in Second Quarter
The second quarter turned into a goal-fest. Paul Philipp Kaufmann restored the Dragons' lead with a diving finish, but Domene struck again for the Pipers via a penalty stroke just a minute later. In a breathless sequence, Tom Craig immediately fired a penalty corner to put Tamil Nadu back in front. Despite heavy pressure from the Pipers, the Dragons carried a slender 3-2 lead into halftime.
Late Drama and Shootout Heroics
The intensity did not drop after the break. Ky Willott leveled the score for SG Pipers, only for Selvaraj Kanagaraj to produce a moment of magic, deflecting the ball in to give Tamil Nadu Dragons a 4-3 advantage.
Desperate for an equalizer in the final quarter, SG Pipers took a massive gamble by swapping their goalkeeper for an outfield player. The move paid off when Aditya Lalage smashed home a goal in the 59th minute, forcing the game into a shootout.
In the decisive shootout, the SG Pipers managed four conversions, largely due to penalty strokes awarded for goalkeeper fouls. Yet, the Tamil Nadu Dragons were flawless. They converted all five attempts to seal a memorable victory and take home the extra point.
