HIL 2024-25: Delhi SG Pipers Aim for First Victory Against Bengal Warriors

Rourkela, Jan 3 (NationPress) Still seeking their first outright win in the tournament, Delhi SG Pipers are set for a tough battle against the second-ranked Shrachi Rarh Bengal Warriors in their third match of the Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 at the Birsa Munda Stadium this Saturday.

The Delhi SG Pipers have drawn both matches to date, showing resilience by coming from behind in each contest. They managed to triumph over Team Gonasika with a score of 4-2 in a shootout after their opening game concluded in a 2-2 tie. However, they faced defeat against Hyderabad Toofans, losing 4-5 in sudden death after overcoming a 0-2 deficit at the end of the first quarter.

Argentine striker Tomas Domene has emerged as the standout player for the Delhi SG Pipers, netting both goals against Gonasika during regulation time. Gareth Furlong contributed with a penalty corner goal, while Dilraj Singh scored from a field goal against the Hyderabad Toofans. The Bengal Tigers are enjoying a strong start, having won both of their matches and holding a perfect record alongside UP Rudras, who lead the standings based on a superior goal difference. Currently, the Delhi SG Pipers sit in third place with three points from two matches.

Head coach Graham Reid recognizes the importance of Saturday's match and the necessity of securing three points.

"The last three days have flown by, particularly with New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. We provided the players a complete day off. The remaining time has been dedicated to reviewing as many videos as possible. I was pleased with the number of chances we created in our first game, but not as much in the second, so that’s an area we are focusing on," he stated.

"The synergy between our defense, midfield, and forward lines will be crucial for tomorrow night," Reid emphasized before their third match.

The Australian coach, who led India to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, is well aware of the challenges posed by the Bengal Tigers. "The Bengal Tigers are a highly organized team. They appear to have synchronized their play well, both offensively and defensively. They possess two world-class Indian strikers, Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh, and have Jugraj Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh for offensive corner plays," he noted.

"I believe they are beatable, and if we perform at our best and adhere to our game plan, we can challenge them," he remarked.

Defender Jarmanpreet Singh, who recently received the Arjuna Award, is also optimistic about the upcoming match, choosing to focus on the future rather than their initial two matches.

"This is just the beginning; we've only played two matches. I believe we've performed decently so far. It’s a new team with new players, and we’re in the process of developing chemistry. We will put up a strong fight. We are prepared," he concluded.