Hockey India League 2024/25 Points Table: Updated HIL standings on December 31

Gonzalo Peillat was in his element in his second game of the HIL - Source: Hockey India League

A fast and exciting encounter enthralled the crowds in Rourkela with the Delhi SG Pipers taking on the Hyderabad Toofans in the Hockey India League on Tuesday (December 31).

The Toofans who lost their opening counter against the Shrachi Rarh Tigers shot into the lead off a penalty corner in the opening quarter before doubling their tally via a Gonzalo Peillat drag flick immediately after.

A brilliant effort from Dilraj Singh helped the Pipers reduce the deficit in the second quarter. Gareth Furlong scored his first goal of the Hockey India League to force a shootout with the score at 2-2 at the end of regulation time.

The Toofans picked up their first points of the competition via sudden death (5-4) thanks to goalkeeper Dominic Dixon.

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Zachary Wallace was in the thick of things early angling one in but the Toofans' midfielder found no support in the circle in the opening minute.

Jake Whetton managed to direct a shot on target at the other end in the sixth minute but Vikas Dahiya did well to halt the ball with his pads ruling out the chances of a deflection finding a Pipers' stick.

Wallace was denied by Pawan in the Pipers' goal a couple of minutes later before Timothy Brand won his side a penalty corner in the 10th minute of play during their crucial Hockey India League encounter.

Amandeep Lakra fired in a lethal drag-flick that gave Pawan no chance whatsoever in the 11th minute.

Devinder Walmiki earned a second penalty corner a couple of minutes later. Gonzalo Peillat scored his first goal of the tournament with a powerful high drag-flick enabling the Toofans to veer ahead to a 2-0 lead.

Jake Whetton was brought down at the edge of the circle and the umpire played advantage which allowed Dilraj Singh to score in the 21st minute even as Arthur de Sloover felt that the Toofans were hard done by.

Benjamin Rennie, who replaced Pawan in the Pipers' goal, stopped a shot on target from Jacob Anderson before the Delhi side earned their first penalty corner in the 37th minute which did not come off as planned.

Rajinder Singh manufactured a penalty corner for the Toofans at the end of the third quarter but Benjamin Rennie managed to thwart Peillat's drag flick.

The Pipers earned their second short corner when Jarmanpreet Singh was impeded in the circle. Gareth Furlong unleashed a scorching drag flick which restored parity for the Delhi side in the 50th minute.

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A controversial penalty corner awarded for the 5-metre rule to the Toofans in the 58th minute came to nought before Benjamin Rennie stopped a last-gasp effort from Zachary Wallace.

A nerve-wracking shootout had to be decided by sudden death with the Toofans prevailing by the smallest of margins after Koji Yamasaki failed to beat Dominic Dixon.

Owing to the above result, the Hyderabad side has moved up to fifth place in the Hockey India League points table while the UP Rudras maintain their spot at the top.

Hockey India League: Updated Points Table Men's League Phase (Tuesday, December 31)

	PLAYED	WON	LOST	S/O WIN	S/O LOSS	GF	GA	GD	POINTS
UP Rudras	1	1	0	0	0	3	1	+2	3
Shrachi Bengal Tigers	1	1	0	0	0	3	2	+1	3
Delhi SG Pipers	2	0	0	1	1	4	4	0	3
Soorma Hockey Club	1	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	2
Hyderabad Toofans	2	0	1	1	0	4	5	-1	2
Team Gonasika	1	0	0	0	1	2	2	0	1
Tamil Nadu Dragons	1	0	0	0	1	1	1	-0	1
Kalinga Lancers	1	0	1	0	0	1	3	-2	0

Hockey India League 2024/25 : Men's League Fixtures (Wednesday, January 1)

Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers vs Team Gonasika, 8:15 pm IST (Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium)

Edited by Ankush Das