Hockey India League: Kalinga Lancers thrash Bengal Tigers to claim 1st win-OxBig News Network

The Vedanta Kalinga Lancers claimed their first victory of the Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 in emphatic fashion, dismantling table-toppers Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 6-0 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Tuesday. Goals from Thierry Brinkman (3’, 47’), Sanjay (6’), Alexander Hendrickx (9’), Nicolas Bandurak (29’), and Boby Singh Dhami (49’) propelled the Lancers to a much-needed win.

Heading into the match, the Tigers were unbeaten in their first three games, sitting atop the standings. In contrast, the Lancers had struggled with two losses and a draw. However, the home side turned their fortunes around with a dominant performance. The Lancers made a blistering start, racing to a 2-0 lead within four minutes. Thierry Brinkman opened the scoring in the third minute, skillfully finishing after being set up by Dilpreet Singh. Moments later, Brinkman earned a penalty corner, and although Alexander Hendrickx’s initial drag flick was saved, Sanjay pounced on the rebound to double the lead.

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Hendrickx then found the top corner with a precise drag flick in the sixth minute, making it 3-0. This marked a significant improvement for the Lancers, who had struggled with penalty corner conversions earlier in the tournament. The Tigers struggled to capitalise on their possession and circle penetrations, with Sukhjeet Singh providing their only meaningful attempt in the opening stages. The Lancers, meanwhile, continued to pile on the pressure, though Carr’s efforts in goal kept the scoreline from worsening before the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Tigers came close to reducing the deficit, earning their first penalty corner. However, goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak produced a series of impressive saves to deny Jugraj Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh. At the other end, the Lancers were denied by the post as Dilpreet Singh’s fierce tomahawk shot cannoned off the woodwork. The fourth goal came in the 29th minute when Brinkman fired a pass into the circle, and Nicolas Bandurak deflected it past the defense into the net.

The Tigers had a rare opportunity in the third quarter when Sukhjeet Singh launched a counterattack, but Pathak once again thwarted Affan Yousuf’s attempt. Pathak was outstanding throughout, including a crucial save against Jugraj Singh’s drag flick in the 40th minute.

The Lancers’ fifth goal arrived in the 47th minute, with Bandurak setting up Brinkman, who darted along the goal line before slotting the ball past Carr. Two minutes later, Boby Singh Dhami completed the rout with a brilliant tomahawk strike from the edge of the circle. Despite a few half-chances, the Tigers failed to trouble the Lancers, who secured their first win of the season and climbed to fifth in the standings. The Tigers, despite the loss, remain at the top of the points table.