Hockey India League: Tamil Nadu Dragons and SG Pipers play out thrilling 4-4 draw; hosts clinch shootout bonus

Tamil Nadu Dragons players celebrate a goal during their thrilling 4-4 draw against SG Pipers. Credit: HIL

Tamil Nadu Dragons finished their home leg unbeaten, with one outright win and two shootout bonus points, after edging past SG Pipers in the tiebreaker following a pulsating 4-4 draw at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Amit Rohidas (9′), Tom Craig (18′), Paul Philipp Kaufmann (17’), and Selvaraj Kanagaraj (40’) scored a goal each for the Dragons, while Tomas Domene (13′, 18′), Ky Willott (38′), and Aditya Lalage (59′) netted goals for the Pipers in the regulation time in match that swung one way and then the other right through. The result also meant that Pipers are yet to win a match outright since the start of last season.

Skipper Rohidas converted with a low hit from a penalty corner to give his side the lead. The Dragons appeared to double their advantage a minute later, but the goal was overturned following a successful review by the Pipers. Domene fired one in shortly after to restore parity, as the opening quarter ended 1-1.

The second quarter produced a burst of drama as three goals were scored in the space of just two minutes. Dragons were quick to regain the lead when Kaufmann finished off a brilliant diving effort. Pipers struck back almost immediately after being awarded a penalty stroke, which Domene converted. Then, within seconds, Craig converted a penalty corner to put the home side back in front once again.

Pipers responded in the third quarter by playing on the counter and earned a penalty corner, which Willott (38’) converted to bring his side back on level terms. Dragons regained the lead through Selvaraj, who produced a fine deflection from a long ball. Pipers removed their goalkeeper for an extra outfield player, and the move paid off instantly as Aditya struck a superb goal to force the match into a shootout.

In the ensuing shootout, SG Pipers converted four of their five attempts, that too through penalty strokes courtesy of repeated fouls by the Dragons’ goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh. But the junior team GK made the one save that mattered.

In the day’s first match, Soorma Hockey Club registered their first points of the season with a 3-1 shootout victory against Hyderabad Toofans after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. Captain Harmanpreet Singh (20′) and Amandeep Lakra (46′) were the goalscorers.