The Tamil Nadu Dragons continued their winning run in the Hero Hockey India League 2024-25. They secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Shrachi Bengal Tigers on Friday at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. Karthi Selvam (16′) and Uttam Singh (37′) scored the crucial goals to seal the win.
Dragons Take the Lead Early
At first, both teams played cautiously, creating little action in the opening 10 minutes. However, the Dragons soon shifted gears and began attacking regularly. They earned a penalty corner in the final minute of the first quarter, but Jamie Carr made an excellent save to deny Blake Govers.
Shortly after, the Dragons broke the deadlock early in the second quarter. Uttam Singh delivered a brilliant aerial pass, and Karthi Selvam tapped it home with precision. This goal marked Karthi’s second of the season and gave the Dragons a vital lead.
Tigers Push Back Aggressively
Meanwhile, the Bengal Tigers stepped up their attack in search of an equalizer. First, Jugraj Singh unleashed a powerful drag flick, but goalkeeper David Harte pushed it onto the crossbar. Then, Harte saved back-to-back shots from Affan Yousuf and Sean Findlay, keeping the Dragons ahead.
Just before halftime, the Tigers had another chance. Sebastien Dockier found himself unmarked in the circle and struck from a tight angle. However, Harte rushed off his line and made a crucial block to preserve the lead.
Equalizer Sparks Action
After halftime, the Tigers maintained their aggressive approach. They won a penalty corner in the 35th minute, but once again, Harte denied Sam Lane’s shot. Moments later, the Tigers earned a penalty stroke, and Rupinder Pal Singh calmly converted it to level the score.
The Tigers almost took the lead just a minute later. Tim Cross struck a powerful shot, but the ball ricocheted off the post. In response, the Dragons regained the lead in the 37th minute. Mortiz Ludwig delivered a pinpoint pass to Uttam Singh, who calmly slotted the ball into the net, making it 2-1.
Missed Opportunities and Defensive Brilliance
As the match progressed, the Tigers created multiple opportunities but failed to capitalize. They wasted three penalty corners in the 39th minute. Later, in the 44th minute, Rupinder missed another penalty stroke, dragging his shot wide of the target.
Even in the 52nd minute, Rupinder’s drag flick from a penalty corner lacked accuracy and failed to trouble the goalkeeper. On the other hand, the Dragons faced challenges when Mortiz Ludwig received a yellow card in the 54th minute. Shortly after, Chandan Yadav also got a yellow card in the 58th minute, reducing the team to 10 men.
Nevertheless, the Dragons showed incredible defensive resilience. Despite relentless pressure from the Tigers, the Dragons held firm and secured a well-deserved win.
Victory Propels Dragons to the Top
This victory extended the Tamil Nadu Dragons’ winning streak. Moreover, it helped them overtake the Bengal Tigers to claim the top spot in the Hero Hockey India League standings.
