Rohidas, left, congratulates a visibly delighted Janssen on netting Dragons’ equaliser against SG Pipers.
| Photo Credit: Hockey India League
Table topper Tamil Nadu Dragons again relied on its gritty defence to get the better of a hapless Delhi SG Pipers 3-2 in a keen contest of the Hockey India League at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Monday.
The Dragons’ fourth outright win, and the fifth overall, firmed up its position, while Pipers, who managed to score twice of their 26 circle entries, continued to lie at the bottom of the table.
Pipers dominated the proceedings in the opening quarter. In the second minute, they drew first blood from their opening penalty corner as Argentine Tomas Domene shot diagonally along the carpet to sound the board on goalkeeper David Harte’s right.
Dragons equalised soon as Jip Janssen converted his team’s first short corner with a low shot to beat Ben Rennie on the left.
The Dragons kept their cool and turned the match heavily on its way in the second period as Pipers again lost control after a fine start.
Dragons’ clinical approach and better control fetched them two quick goals early in the quarter that proved decisive.
Nathan Ephraums, with his back to his post, guided in a long hit of Amit Rohidas and Blake Govers tapped in a rebound following Abharan Sudev’s attempt off another long shot as the Pipers’ defence was caught napping.
Following a Dragons’ referral opposing a penalty corner, Pipers earned a penalty stroke in the 37th minute and Domene put it past Harte to score his second goal.
The Northern side tried hard to catch up and their active forwards bagged two more penalty corners in the penultimate quarter.
The industrious Pipers distributed well and continued to create chances. It came close to equalising in the 49th minute, but the alert Harte saved Domene’s drag-flick and Jarmanpreet Singh’s shot before the Indian’s second effort sailed over the bar.
The Dragons defence, led by Rohidas and Janssen, held tight to frustrate the Pipers.
With Dragons reduced to 10 men in the last five minutes, Pipers got two short corners, replaced their goalkeeper and made multiple attempts but could not find the equaliser.
The result: Tamil Nadu Dragons 3 (Janssen 6, Ephraums 19, Govers 21) bt Delhi SG Pipers 2 (Domene 2, 37).
Published – January 13, 2025 10:48 pm IST
Content Source: www.thehindu.com