Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers booked their place in the final of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Ranchi Royals at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Friday. Belgian defender Alexander Hendrickx starred for the Lancers, scoring both goals to seal the win in a high-intensity encounter.
Ranchi Royals began the match on an attacking note, dominating possession and circulating the ball with intent to breach the Lancers’ defence. However, the hosts absorbed the early pressure with composure and gradually found their rhythm. The breakthrough came in the 12th minute when Hendrickx calmly converted a penalty corner with a powerful drag-flick to put the Lancers ahead 1–0 in the first quarter.
The Royals pressed hard in the second quarter in search of an equaliser, earning six circle entries and four penalty corners. Despite sustained pressure, they were unable to break through a resolute Lancers backline, which has been the most reliable in the league, conceding just eight goals so far. Vedanta Kalinga Lancers went into half-time maintaining their slender one-goal advantage.
The Lancers made the perfect start to the second half, with Hendrickx once again stepping up in the 32nd minute to double the lead. The Belgian struck another emphatic drag-flick from a penalty corner, giving his side a 2–0 cushion. Ranchi Royals responded with renewed urgency and were rewarded in the 40th minute when Mandeep Singh finished off a well-worked penalty corner variation to reduce the deficit to 2–1 by the end of the third quarter.
The final quarter witnessed end-to-end action as both sides fought fiercely for control. With eight minutes remaining, the Lancers came close to sealing the contest when Rosan Kujur’s deflected effort crashed against the crossbar. The Royals continued to push relentlessly, creating seven circle entries and earning a penalty corner, but the equaliser proved elusive.
Showing composure under pressure, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers held on to their narrow lead and confirmed their spot in the HIL final with a 2–1 win.
Ranchi Royals will now face the Hyderabad Toofans in Qualifier 2 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Sunday, January 25.
All matches of the Hero Hockey India League are being broadcast live on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3 and DD Sports, and are also available for live streaming on Waves and the Hockey India League YouTube channel.