{"id":276656,"date":"2025-04-08T03:50:35","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T03:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/08\/hockey-india-league-up-rudras-return-to-winning-ways-harmanpreet-limps-off-in-soorma-hockey-clubs-shootout-defeat\/"},"modified":"2025-04-08T03:50:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T03:50:35","slug":"hockey-india-league-up-rudras-return-to-winning-ways-harmanpreet-limps-off-in-soorma-hockey-clubs-shootout-defeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/08\/hockey-india-league-up-rudras-return-to-winning-ways-harmanpreet-limps-off-in-soorma-hockey-clubs-shootout-defeat\/","title":{"rendered":"Hockey India League: UP Rudras return to winning ways, Harmanpreet limps off in Soorma Hockey club\u2019s shootout defeat"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hockey<\/div>


\n<\/p>\n

\n

UP Rudras arrested their slide with an important 3-1 win against Delhi SG Pipers in the men\u2019s Hockey India League on Saturday. Goals by Floris Wortelboer (30\u2032), Kane Russell (43\u2032) and Tanguy Cosyns (54\u2032) helped them move back to No 2 on the points table while Jake Whetton (29\u2032) was the lone goalscorer for Delhi SG Pipers, who are still winless. <\/p>\n

In the earlier match, Hyderabad<\/a> Toofans clinched a shootout bonus point against Soorma Hockey Club after a 1-1 draw. Nicolas Della Torre (8\u2019) gave Soorma the lead in the first quarter but Amandeep Lakra (40\u2019) levelled it up. Worryingly, Soorma\u2019s captain Harmanpreet Singh limped off late in the match and didn\u2019t take part in the shootout.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Rudras, who had lost two straight after starting the tournament with three wins, needed the win to get back some momentum. Their coach Paul van Ass said he felt the team \u2018were stuck in their heads\u2019 as they failed to find the back of the net in those two defeats. And they started the match as if they meant business. But for all their attacking endeavour in the first half, their defence lapsed in the 29th minute when Delhi<\/a> SG Pipers struck the first goal of the match. It was their co-captain Jake Whetton, who did brilliantly in the top of the circle to dribble past defenders to take an ambitious shot on goal controlling a bouncing ball. <\/p>\n

\n

Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Their celebrations, however, didn\u2019t last too long as Rudras\u2019 Wortelboer struck in the very next minute to equalise the score before half time. It was another fine solo field goal. Rudras were able to take lead in the 43rd minute as Russell was on target with a powerful flick. With Delhi pushing for an equaliser, Rudras found a cushion through arguably the best drag flick of the tournament so far from Cosyns, firing a thunderbolt into the roof of the net. <\/p>\n

In the first match, Soorma\u2019s Della Torre won and converted a penalty corner to give his side the lead. Hyderabad Toofans created numerous circle entries and shooting chances but the Soorma defence stood up to the task and ensured the first half ended 1-0 in their favour.<\/p>\n

In the second half, Amandeep Lakra picked out the left corner of the goal with a powerful flick to equalise for Toofans. It was local lad\u2019s second goal of the tournament. In the shootout, Toofans goalkeeper Dominic Dixon saved Nicolas Poncelet\u2019s attempt to secure the bonus point. <\/p>\n

Soorma\u2019s night started brightly but the shootout defeat and Harmanpreet\u2019s injury leaves them with a bitter taste. It is unclear yet what the extent of their captain\u2019s injury is but it was bad enough for him to miss the end of regulation time as well as the shootout where he usually is the first person to step up.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u00a9 The Indian Express Pvt Ltd<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t