Chennai, January 9:
JSW Soorma Hockey Club held their nerve in a gripping shootout to defeat Hyderabad Toofans 3–1 after a 1–1 draw in regulation time in Match 9 of the Hero Hockey India League 2026 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium (MRHS), Chennai, on Thursday.
The contest remained a tightly fought affair throughout, with both teams showing defensive discipline and tactical maturity in a match that could have gone either way.
First Half – Soorma Draw First Blood
The opening quarter passed without a goal as both sides cancelled each other out in midfield. JSW Soorma finally broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, when skipper Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner with a crisp drag-flick to give his side a deserved 1–0 lead. Goalkeepers Bikramjit Singh for Hyderabad and Vincent Vanasch for Soorma produced timely saves to ensure the scoreline remained unchanged at half-time.
Toofans Strike Back
Hyderabad Toofans showed greater urgency after the break, pushing higher up the pitch and forcing a series of circle penetrations. Their persistence paid off in the 46th minute, when defender Amandeep Lakra calmly slotted home a penalty corner to restore parity.
The equaliser injected fresh intensity into the contest, with both teams hunting for the winning goal in the final quarter. Despite several half-chances, neither side managed to find the net, sending the match into a shootout.
Shootout – Vanasch the Difference
The shootout saw JSW Soorma display remarkable composure under pressure. While Tim Brand scored for Hyderabad in the first round, his teammates were repeatedly denied by the agile Vincent Vanasch, who made crucial saves against Zachary Wallace, Arshdeep Singh, and Rajinder Singh.
For Soorma, captain Harmanpreet Singh and Nicolas Keenan converted confidently, while Victor Wegnez and Nicolas della Torre ensured the scoreboard kept ticking. Soorma sealed the contest 3–1 in the shootout, walking away with the vital bonus point.
Final Score
Hyderabad Toofans 1 (1) – 1 (3) JSW Soorma Hockey Club
(JSW Soorma won 3–1 on shootout)
The victory gives JSW Soorma a timely boost in their Hero HIL 2026 campaign, underlining their growing strength in crunch situations. Hyderabad Toofans, meanwhile, will take heart from their spirited comeback but will rue missed opportunities in the shootout.
With the league gathering momentum, fans in Chennai can expect more high-intensity clashes as teams battle for supremacy in India’s premier domestic hockey competition.
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