HIL | Kalinga Lancers script a sensational comeback win

Kalinga Lancers goalkeeper Toby Reynolds-Cotterill pulls off a save.
| Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY

Goalkeeper Toby Reynolds-Cotterill saved thrice in penalty shootouts as Vedanta Kalinga Lancers made a stunning comeback to pip Delhi SG Pipers in an action-packed high-scoring Pool-A thriller of the Hockey India League at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Sunday.

As the men’s league entered its second phase, Lancers rode on Alex Hendrickx and Thierry Brinkman’s braces to erase a three-goal deficit as the two sides were locked 5-5 in the regulation period. Lancers won the shootout 3-2 to record their fourth win and make thousands of home fans happy, while Pipers suffered their seventh consecutive defeat.

Lancers conducted raids from the left and earned a short corner in the 13th minute. Hendrickx flicked low to put the host ahead.

The second quarter suddenly switched in Pipers’ favour as the Graham Reid-coached side converted four penalty corners in the space of five minutes.

Following Jarmanpreet Singh’s smart effort, Tomas Domene drag-flicked high to equalise.

The Argentinian scored another, giving Pipers the lead by shooting home a low and angled flick to Krishan Pathak’s left.

Corey Weyer found Pipers’ third goal off a rebound beating Pathak on the right.

Pipers made it 4-1 as Koji Yamasaki jumped to tap in another rebound and helped Pipers retain their advantage at the halfway stage.

Brinkman slammed in off a free ball inside the circle to pull one back soon after the change of ends.

Amid a hard tussle and heated exchanges, Dilraj Singh finished off Domene’s excellent circle entry from the right to score Pipers’ fifth.

Lancers, served well by Antoine Kina and Boby Singh Dhami up front, refused to give up.

They pumped in three goals within seven minutes of the fourth quarter to make a sensational comeback. Quick passes from outside the ‘D’ and deflections enabled Lancers to slot in two through Brinkman and Angad Bir Singh. Hendrickx utilised Lancers’ sixth short corner to take it to the shootout.

The result: Pool A: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 5 (Hendrickx 13, 52, Brinkman 35, 47, Angad Bir 49) drew with Delhi SG Pipers 5 (Domene 18, 20, Weyer 21, Yamasaki 23, Dilraj 37); Lancers bt Pipers 3-2 via shootout.