Hyderabad Toofans registered their first outright victory of the season while Tamil Nadu Dragons pulled off a dramatic comeback win against Team Gonasika on Wednesday, January 8 in the Hockey India League. Toofans defeated UP Rudras 3-0 while the Dragons registered a 6-5 win over Team Gonasika on the back of Jip Janssen’s brilliant hat-trick.
Toofans delivered a spirited performance to defeat the Rudras and climbed to fifth place on the points table. Goals from Zachary Wallace (6′), Rajinder Singh (14′), and Shilanand Lakra (32′) powered the Toofans to their first victory of the tournament.
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Determined to secure a win, the Toofans showcased an attacking mindset right from the start. Zachary Wallace opened the scoring with a brilliant backhand strike in the sixth minute. Rajinder Singh doubled the lead in the 14th minute after an excellent setup by midfielder Nilakanta Sharma.
UP Rudras attempted a comeback in the second quarter, earning a penalty corner (PC), but Toofans goalkeeper Dominic Dixon made a series of outstanding saves to deny Hardik Singh and Kane Russell.
The Toofans extended their lead early in the third quarter when Shilanand Lakra intercepted a pass and slotted the ball through Rudras goalie Prashant Kumar Chauhan’s legs to make it 3-0. Despite Rudras creating several opportunities, including three penalty corners in the final quarter, they failed to break past Dixon and the Toofans’ resilient defense.
This convincing win provided a much-needed boost for Hyderabad Toofans, who demonstrated composure and determination to claim the crucial 3 points.
Tamil Nadu Dragons Triumph in 11-Goal Thriller
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Dragons showcased incredible grit and resilience in a nail-biting 6-5 victory against Team Gonasika at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. The win marked their second successive triumph and propelled them to second place in the league standings with nine points from four matches.
Team Gonasika dominated the early proceedings, with Araijeet Singh Hundal scoring twice in the first 10 minutes. However, the Dragons clawed their way back, reducing the deficit with a penalty corner conversion by Jip Janssen in the final minute of the first quarter. Janssen continued his heroics with a stunning drag flick in the second quarter, levelling the score at 2-2.
The Dragons surged ahead early in the second half, as Janssen completed his hat-trick with another powerful drag flick. Gonasika responded with goals from Nikkin Thimmaiah and Struan Walker to regain the lead at 4-3 heading into the final quarter.
The Dragons intensified their attack in the closing stages, with Janssen equalising at 4-4 before Nathan Ephraums put them ahead in the 55th minute. Gonasika levelled the score once more through Timothee Clement in the 58th minute, but Karthi Selvam’s dazzling solo effort just seconds later sealed the victory for the Dragons. Blake Govers’ last-second defensive block ensured Gonasika couldn’t equalize, capping off a dramatic and entertaining contest.
