Tamil Nadu Dragons scored three goals in the final quarter to come from behind and beat Team Gonasika 6-5 in the highest-scoring match of this edition of the Hockey India League so far in Rourkela on Wednesday.
While Karthi Selvam scored the winner in the 59th minute, it was Netherlands drag flicker Jip Janssen who was the star for the Dragons as he scored a brilliant hat-trick. Besides him, Abharan Sudev (15′) and Nathan Ephraums (55′) scored the other two goals as the Dragons grabbed their second win of the tournament at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium.
However, the match might have gone to the shootouts had it not been for the brilliant defending of Blake Govers on the line in the final seconds of the thrilling encounter.
With Dragons leading 6-5, Gonasika won their eighth PC of the match with a few seconds remaining on the clock and Victor Charlet went directly for goal from the PC. It was well hit and the goalkeeper failed to get a touch to it. Govers got his stick down in time to block the shot and then cleared it to make sure Dragons were able to grab the win.
Earlier, Araijeet Singh Hundal scored two goals in quick succession in the first quarter itself to give Gonasika a perfect opening. It was a dream start for Paul Revington’s men and the young striker was over the moon.
But the momentum of the game shifted as Dragons took control of the game towards the end of the first quarter and scored the next three goals to take the lead. Gonasika did claw their way back into the game but in the end the Dragons had the last laugh.
Toofans win: Later in the day, Hyderabad Toofans grabbed their first win of the tournament as they beat UP Rudras 3-0. Zachary Wallace scored the opener as early as in the sixth minute while Rajinder Singh doubled their lead eight minutes later.
Rudras did their best to make a comeback and earned a PC early in the second quarter but it was Toofans who made it 3-0 in the third quarter. This time it was Shilanand Lakra who sounded the board. In the final quarter Rudras upped the ante but their efforts were not enough as Toofans bagged all the three points on offer.