Rourkela: Soorma Hockey Club clinched a hard-fought 4-3 victory against the Kalinga Lancers in an electrifying Hero Hockey India League match at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on Sunday. The game was marked by stellar goalkeeping from Vincent Vanasch, who played a pivotal role in securing the win for Soorma.
The intense match saw Jeremy Hayward (11′), Nicolas della Torre (35′), Harmanpreet Singh (50′), and Harish Somappa (52′) scoring for Soorma Hockey Club. The Lancers responded with goals from Thierry Brinkman (5′), Sanjay (30′), and Gursahibjit Singh (50′). Despite their 26 circle penetrations and nine shots compared to Soorma’s 14 and seven, the Lancers couldn’t overcome Vanasch’s heroics in goal.
The Lancers started strong, with captain Thierry Brinkman showcasing his dribbling skills to net the opening goal in the fifth minute. Soorma leveled the score in the 11th minute, thanks to a penalty corner conversion by Hayward.
Both teams displayed excellent strategy and skill throughout the match. The Lancers regained the lead at the end of the first quarter through Sanjay’s precise drag flick, but their efforts to extend the margin were thwarted by Vanasch, who made critical saves in the second quarter.
Soorma equalized again in the 35th minute when Nicolas della Torre’s powerful drag flick found the top corner. The Lancers responded aggressively, but their efforts were repeatedly denied by Vanasch and his resolute defense.
The fourth quarter brought a flurry of goals and intense action. Harmanpreet Singh gave Soorma the lead in the 50th minute with a straight drag flick. However, the Lancers struck back almost immediately through Gursahibjit Singh, leveling the match at 3-3.
Just two minutes later, Soorma regained the advantage when Phil Roper’s deft assist set up Harish Somappa for the decisive goal. The Lancers pushed hard in the dying minutes, earning a penalty stroke in the 58th minute. But Vanasch proved unbeatable, saving Alexander Hendrickx’s attempt and securing victory for Soorma.
Player of the Match Vincent Vanasch attributed his penalty stroke save to a mix of skill and luck, saying, “Penalty strokes are always a bit about luck. I chose the right side. It was a tough match with seven goals, but I am happy we got the three points.”
With this thrilling win, Soorma Hockey Club continues its strong performance in the Hero Hockey India League, while the Lancers will look to regroup and capitalize on their next opportunity.
