There was a sense of deja vu on the opening night of the Hockey India League in Rourkela. It all made for a fine spectacle as Delhi and Gonasika played out a rollercoaster 2-2 draw in regulation time to split a point each before the former won the penalty shootout to earn a bonus point on Saturday. (Credit: hockey India)
Graham Reid, the former India coach who is now at the helm for Delhi SG Pipers, said it was ‘great to be back home’. His team was up against an inspired Ollie Payne in goal for Team Gonasika – the England goalkeeper was also the star of the night when India and England played out a thrilling 0-0 draw in the World Cup last year at this very venue. The match ended with Raj Kumar Pal slotting a shootout effort past Payne, just as the Indian attacker had famously done so in India’s sensational backs-to-wall win against Great Britain at the Paris Olympics in the quarterfinal.
There was a sense of deja vu on the opening night of the Hockey India League in Rourkela. It all made for a fine spectacle as Delhi and Gonasika played out a rollercoaster 2-2 draw in regulation time to split a point each before the former won the penalty shootout to earn a bonus point on Saturday. Argentina’s Tomas Domene opened the scoring for the league and notched up the equaliser as well for Delhi, either side of goals by Struan Walker and Victor Charlet’s goals for Gonasika. Goalkeepers from both sides were in fine form, but Gonasika’s misses in the shootout proved costly.
It was a night where Indian players didn’t get on the scoresheet but played some impressive support roles, with young Aditya Lalage shining for Delhi, notching up the assist for his side’s equaliser. On the other end of the spectrum, veteran Nikkin Thimmiah, who last played for India in 2016, put in a good shift in the forward line for Gonasika with his inventive stickwork.
Raj Kumar Pal’s penalty past Oliver Payne to give @DelhiSG_Pipers their first win of the #HeroHIL season is our Hero Moment of Match! #HockeyKaJashn #HILisBack @HeroMotoCorp @VidaDotWorld pic.twitter.com/GiJEvfAZuD
— Hockey India League (@HockeyIndiaLeag) December 28, 2024
India women’s team coach Harendra Singh, during his half-time analysis in the studio, said he was pleasantly surprised by how the teams appeared to have gelled well enough already despite little time to get ready for the tournament, as both teams impressed with some of their connections.
The first penalty corner of the match resulted in the first goal of HIL’s new season, as Delhi took the lead within the first 5 minutes thanks to Domene’s drag flick. But after a sluggish start to the match, Manpreet Singh-led Gonasika turned things around impressively. The former India captain should have brought his side level in the opening quarter but after doing well to steal in midfield and driving forward, he completely mishit a shot on goal.
Gonasika ramped up the pressure on Delhi’s defence in the second quarter and it paid off. Nikkin deflected the ball onto the post with a deft first-touch off a ball into the circle and then Walker tapped into the empty net. In the second half, Araijeet Singh Hundal won a PC and Gonasika deservedly took the lead as Charlet converted with a drag flick.
Delhi had shown barely anything attacking-wise since Q1 but a yellow card for Walker opened up the game for them and Reid’s side hit back with a man advantage. Domene took up a good position in the middle and Aditya’s neat pass into the center was deflected past Payne. Gonasika had the better of chances in the endgame but were guilty of not being clinical in front of goal and missed out on taking all three points.
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