HIL 2024-25: Hyderabad Toofans Overwhelm Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 5-1, Ascend to Second Position
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Rourkela, Jan 12 (NationPress) The Hyderabad Toofans celebrated a decisive victory over the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, triumphing with a score of 5-1 (Gonzalo Peillat 6’ & 30’, Maico Casella 21’, Tim Brand 47’ and Arshdeep Singh 54’) in the Men’s Hockey India League encounter held at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Sunday.
The Kalinga Lancers began with a fantastic opening, scoring in the fifth minute. This goal was a well-executed penalty corner, with Alexander Hendrickx delivering a powerful shot that found the net. However, their excitement was short-lived as the Toofans responded almost immediately, leveling the score.
Veteran player Gonzalo Peillat quickly made his mark, firing a shot past goalkeeper Krishan Pathak. Hendrickx nearly restored the Kalinga Lancers' lead in the eighth minute, but his shot hit the crossbar. The Lancers earned a penalty corner in the closing moments of the first quarter, yet the score remained tied at 1-1.
The Toofans took the lead in spectacular fashion in the 21st minute, with Maico Casella scoring a potential goal of the tournament. A diagonal aerial pass from Zachary Wallace set up Casella, who executed an extraordinary volley from a difficult angle, sending the ball into the top of the net. The Hyderabad team added another goal just before halftime as Peillat netted his second from a delightful drag flick.
Throughout much of the third quarter, the Toofans maintained control, although Thierry Brinkman came close to scoring for the Lancers in the 39th minute, but his attempt from a tight angle only struck the side netting. Shortly after, Hendrickx managed to convert a penalty corner, but his shot went off the post.
Tim Brand also contributed to the scoreline, finding the net in the 47th minute to extend the Toofans' lead to 4-1. Even with a comfortable advantage, the Toofans continued to push forward and secured a fifth goal in the 54th minute. The Lancers, having removed their goalkeeper in a bid to score, allowed Arshdeep Singh to capitalize by sending the ball into an empty net. This final goal sealed the match, as the Toofans celebrated a significant win, moving up to second place in the Men's Hockey India League standings.
