The Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 season saw Delhi SG Pipers pip past Team Gonasika in their opening game of the tournament. The match ended 2-2 after Delhi pulled out a stunning comeback in the latter part of the game. And come the shootout the Delhi outfits emerged victorious and claimed the bonus point to go on to top the HIL Standings.
Team Donasika staged an almost perfect comeback
It was Delhi SG Pipers who showcased their dominance from the very beginning of the game. As a result, the Vizag side was left defending early on. As fate would have it, the Delhi outfits got the first goal of the game in the very first quarter of the match from the penalty corner. Tomas Domene went on to score the first goal of the tournament.
Team Donasika then marched back strongly. They went on to score in the second quarter of the game to bring the game back to level terms. Straun Walker scored in the 26th minute of the game to restore parity. Donasika however did get chances but failed to convert them. But then from a deflection of the goal post, Walker pushed the ball into the net as the game read 1-1 at Half time.
In the third quarter, it was all one-way traffic. Delhi SG Pipers went on the attack but Donasika got the much-needed goal form a counter attack. Early in the third quarter, France’s Victor Charlet with a sublime drag flick converted a penalty corner and gave his side a much-deserving lead.
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Delhi SG Pipers Extraordinary in the End
After their lead, Gonasika made a blunder. Walker received a yellow card and was out of the field for 5 minutes. Delhi took a chance on their numerical advantage and launched a gruesome attack. Ky Willot went past the edge of the box to lay off for Tomas Domene who tapped it inside the net to find the equaliser for his side.
With nothing to separate between the two sides, it was then time for the shootout. And this is where Delhi SG Pipers showcased their brilliance. Jake Whetton, Tomas Domene, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, and Raj Kumar Pal were successful in their shootouts for Delhi. But Gonasika on the other hand faltered and thus it meant that Delhi SG Pipers emerged as the winners of the shootout.
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