Hockey India League Highlights, Tamil Nadu Dragons 2-0 UP Rudras: TN Notch Up First Outright Win

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 the two teams line up ahead of pushback in Rourkela:

The first quarter is underway. The Rudras are attacking from right to left, and Dragons from left to right. The unbeaten Dragons have already forced a strong save from the Tamil Nadu goalie in the early exchanges.

The first two quarters have come and gone, but the deadlock is yet to be broken. It has been a tactical battle so far, with both teams neutralizing the opposition's attacks. Let's see if the second half witnesses a shift.

UP Rudras find the back of the net in Q3 via Kane Russell's drag flick, but the goal is disallowed upon review as the ball had gone out of the circle before the flick. Another chance goes abegging post that, as the match still awaits its opening strike.

We are now left with the final 15 minutes of regulation time, with neither team having scored yet. Remember, a draw will trigger a penalty shootout to determine who gets the bonus point.

We finally have a goal. Abharan Sudev breaks the deadlock with a field goal in the 48th minute, and the Dragons go into the lead with less than 12 minutes on the clock.

The Dragons find a second goal in the final minute to firm up their victory. Thomas Sorsby pounces on a stray ball inside the Rudras circle to make it 2-0. The final hooter rings out, and Tamil Nadu have their first outright win of the competition. The Rudras, on the other hand, suffer their first loss in HIL 2024-25.