The match will begin at 8:15pm IST at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. It will be live telecast on DD Sports, Sony Sports 1, Sony Sports 3 and Sony Sports 4 TV channels in India. It will be live streamed on the Sony Liv app and website and the OTT app Waves in India.
Here's how Soorma Hockey Club and Delhi SG Pipers line up for pushback in Rourkela:
We are off at the Birsa Munda Stadium. Soorma Hockey Club attacking from left to right, and Delhi SG Pipers from right to left. As always, all eyes will be on ace India drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, who is shouldering much of the responsibilities for Soorma.
The first 15 minutes have been fairly well contested, with no side possessing a clear edge so far. There haven't been any big goal-scoring opportunities yet either, and Soorma, Delhi head into the second quarter at 0-0.
The first half draws to a close, with the teams yet to break the deadlock. The Pipers earned two penalty corners, as against none for Soorma. But we all know the danger Harmanpreet possesses, come an opportunity. Let's see what the third quarter brings. Stay tuned.
The Pipers have scored twice in less than two minutes in the third quarter to change the complexion of this match. Tomas Domene first beats veteran goalie Vincent Vanasch with a field goal in the 43rd minute. Jake Whetton then sends in a perfect cross for Rajkumar Pal to slide in and finish with a superb touch in the 45th minute. Soorma are stunned, and Delhi are now surely frontrunners to claim their first outright win of HIL 2024-25.
Birthday boy Harmanpreet Singh finally comes to the party. The Soorma skipper does what he does best: flick penalty corner injections into the back of the net. His powerful drag-flick is too much for the Delhi defence to handle, and the scoreline now reads 2-1 in the Pipers' favour with more than 12 minutes remaining. Game on.
The talismanic India skipper does it again for Soorma. He converts another PC through his world-class drag-flicking skills to bring Soorma level 2-2, and the hooter rings out soon after. The match is drawn, and we are headed to a penalty shootout to determine who gets the bonus point.
It seems the match was destined to go Harmanpreet and his team's way tonight. The birthday boy brought Soorma back from 0-2 down with two drag-flicks late in the fourth quarter to force a draw, and the resulting penalty shootout also went Soorma's way as Delhi were left wondering what could have been.
The next match of Hockey India League 2024-25 will see Kalinga Lancers facing off against Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers on Tuesday (January 7) at 8:15pm IST. We will bring you live updates from that game, as also the rest of the HIL tourney.