SHC Vs UPR, Hockey India League 2024-25 Highlights: UP Rudras Blank Soorma 3-0, Climb To Top Of HIL Points Table

⛦Hello everyone! How's the second day of 2025 treating you? Hockey India League Match 7 is here, and we’ve got live coverage coming your way. Stay tuned.

Soorma Hockey Club:

🌞Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh (c), Jeremy Hayward (Australia), Gurinder Singh, Nicolas Della Torre (Argentina), Sukhvinder, Ashu Maurya, Pradip Mandal

🌠Midfielders: Vivek Sagar Prasad, Victor Wegnez (Belgium), Harjeet Singh, Nicolas Poncelet (Belgium), Prabhjot Singh, Ankush, Sunit Lakra

ꩲForwards: Gurjant Singh, Boris Burkhardt (Netherlands), Maninder Singh, Pawan Rajbhar, Harish Somappa Mutagar, Nicolas Keenan (Argentina), Phil Roper (Great Britain)

𝄹Goalkeepers: Vincent Vanasch (Belgium), Mohith H S, Jashandeep Singh

UP Rudras:

🌱Defenders: Lars Balk (Netherlands), Kane Russell (New Zealand), Surender Kumar, Priyobarta Talem, Sunil Jojo, Sharda Nand Tiwari, Prashant Barla, James Albery (Great Britain) 

♏Midfielders: Hardik Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Floris Wortelboer (Netherlands), Rafael Vilallonga (Spain), Manmeet Singh, Jobanpreet Singh 

Forwards: Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Sam Ward 💛(Great Britain), Tanguy Cosyns (Belgium), Gurjot Singh, Mohd. Zaid Khan, Sudeep Chirmako 

🍬Goalkeepers: Prashant Kumar Chauhan, James Mazarelo (Great Britain), Pankaj Kumar Rajak

The players are lined up, ready for the start of play and the national anthem of India. Everyone looks prepared and focused. This is the essence of domestic hockey; this is what Indian hockey represents. We are all set to begin.

♒The Soormas initiate play with possession, but the Rudras' defenders swiftly intercept. The ball is driven toward the opposition's D but narrowly misses the target, going wide.

𓆉And just like that, the game kicks off with a bang, but nope, it’s not Harmanpreet stealing the spotlight. Lalit dishes out a beauty of an assist to Sudeep, who casually flicks it in reverse style. Where were the Soorma defenders? Nowhere near the circle. First goal of the match, and it’s barely two minutes in. Buckle up, folks, this is going to be exciting!

ꦛSudeep Chirmako dazzles on the left flank, skillfully setting up a pass into the circle. A powerful shot follows, but Vincent Vanasch makes a brilliant save. The rebound goes high, deemed dangerous, and the UP Rudras earn a penalty corner. Kane Russell steps up for the drag flick, but Vanasch denies him with ease.

🉐It’s not looking good for Soorma right now! They miss not one, but TWO penalty corners. First, Jeremy Hayward’s drag flick is blocked by the first runner like a brick wall.

൩Then, on the second try, they fail to trap the ball properly. Della Torres does manage a shot, but it’s easily dealt with by Mazarelo. If they don’t turn this around soon, it could get ugly for Soorma. Rudras still lead 1-0.

𝕴And first quarter ends. It's been all UP Rudras so far, who have kept the intensity high after their early goal. Soorma Hockey Club, on the other hand, have struggled, handing over possession too easily and leaving gaps for the Rudras to exploit on their counter-attacks. Soorma will need to regroup and tighten up if they want to stay in the game.

UP lead 1-0.

𝓰The UP Rudras continue their momentum into the second quarter, pressing hard and trying to create openings. A precise pass down the right flank hints at danger, but the Soorma defence steps up, closing down the space effectively and forcing the Rudras out. The score remains UP Rudras 1-0 Soorma.

The Soorma Hockey Club just can't catch a break with their penalty corners tonight. A mistake by Akashdeep gives them a chance, and Harmanpreet Singh ⭕steps up for the drag flick, only to hit the first runner. They get a second opportunity, but Mazarelo denies them with a sharp save.

ꦗFor a team boasting specialists like Harmanpreet and Jeremy Hayward, penalty corners were expected to be their golden ticket. Instead, it's been a nightmare, 8 wasted chances so far! Nothing seems to be clicking for the Soormas under the lights tonight.

♌The Soorma Hockey Club put in a much-improved performance in the second quarter, taking control of the ball and setting the pace of the game. Despite their dominance during this phase, they’ve yet to find the back of the net.

🎐The biggest frustration for the Soorma lies in their inability to capitalize on their penalty corners—eight opportunities so far, and none converted. With Harmanpreet Singh and Jeremy Hayward in their ranks, this was supposed to be their strongest weapon, but it’s just not clicking tonight.

ಞOn the other hand, the UP Rudras continue to hold their ground, relying on Sudeep Chirmako’s early strike in the second minute to maintain their 1-0 lead. As we head into the break, the Rudras will feel confident, while the Soorma need to regroup and rethink their strategy to turn things around in the second half.

🅠We’re back for the second half as the Soorma Hockey Club take possession to kick off the third quarter. Let’s see if they can turn things around.

🔥The Soorma Hockey Club build a promising attack down the left flank and are awarded a penalty corner. However, the UP Rudras immediately challenge the decision, arguing that the ball struck the attacker’s foot rather than their defender.

🧔After a thorough review, the umpire agrees, and the penalty corner is overturned. A sharp call and excellent use of the referral system by the Rudras, who maintain their 1-0 lead.

🐽Sudeep Chirmako sets it up beautifully for Jobanpreet Singh, who delivers a stunning shot to the top of the net. It's a brilliant finish and the SECOND GOAL for the UP Rudras, extending their lead to 2-0.

🗹The Rudras' video referral is successful. The defender is shown to have used a ball check near the line instead of a stick check, which initially resulted in a penalty corner.

🅷The third quarter concludes with the UP Rudras firmly in control. Jobanpreet Singh’s goal has doubled their advantage, and they’ve continued to make dangerous moves into the circle. The Soorma Hockey Club, on the other hand, have only themselves to blame for not capitalizing on their chances as time slips away.

♔Vanasch Returns to Defend Soorma Hockey Club receive a yellow card and will play with one player less for the next five minutes. Sensing the threat, they quickly bring goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch back onto the field.

Rudras 2-0 Soorma.

☂UP RUDRAS STRIKE AGAIN! Soorma Hockey Club, now back to full strength with 11 players, take off goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch to bring in an extra outfield player. But the Rudras capitalize immediately.

𓂃Their defense sends a quick ball upfield to Akashdeep Singh, who makes no mistake in finding the back of the net. A simple finish for the experienced player, and Soorma's woes continue as the Rudras pull further ahead.

Rudras 3-0 Soorma.

⛦The final hooter blows, and the match concludes with the UP Rudras securing a 3-0 victory over Soorma Hockey Club. This win propels them to the top of the HIL points table with six points from just two matches. Despite Soorma making 21 circle penetrations, the Rudras' defense stood firm, keeping a clean sheet.

🌳Soorma had ten penalty corners, with two of the world's most dangerous drag flickers, but couldn’t convert any. It was a superb defensive display from the Rudras that sealed the win.

🔜UP Rudras' Jobanpreet Singh is named Player of the Match. "We'll keep playing the same way and aim to win the next match. It was tough breaking through the Soorma defense, but our team is strong."

That’s all from this match! We’ll be back with another live blog 💫from the Hockey India League soon. Until then, goodbye.