Hockey India League 2024/25 Points Table: Updated HIL standings on January 3

An incredible turn of events in the Hockey India League (HIL) game between the Kalinga Lancers and the Tamil Nadu Dragons witnessed the Odisha side lose the shootout 2-2 (5-6) after having dominated much of the contest on Friday (January 3).

Bottom-placed Kalinga Lancers were rampant in the first half but were denied repeatedly by goalkeeper David Harte who had an outstanding game. It took an extra special drag-flick from Alexander Hendrickx to beat the Irishman midway through the second quarter.

Hendrickx was back in business in the third quarter as he scored off his own penalty corner deflection after Tom Craig had drawn the Dragons level. Jip Janssen scored his opening goal of the Hockey India League taking the contest into a shootout where a miss from Dilpreet Singh led to the defending champions going down in sudden death.

A stunning run by Thomas Sorsby won the Tamil Nadu team a penalty corner in the opening seconds of the game. Jip Janssen's drag-flick was run down the first time around while a follow-up corner witnessed the Dutchman flicking wide.

Despite having the better of the exchanges in the first quarter, the Lancers failed to direct shots on goal. Angad Bir Singh finally managed to force a save from David Harte in the 17th minute before the Irishman padded away a shot from Antoine Kina a minute later.

The Lancers won a penalty corner in the 19th minute following a period of sustained pressure. Amit Rohidas did well to deflect Alexander Hendrickx's drag flick out of harm's way.

Alexander Hendrickx's drag-flick was padded away by Hart before the Lancers won a couple of corners in quick succession.

Hendrickx directed a lethal flick in between the goalkeeper and the post-man much to the delight of coach Valentin Altenburg even as the Lancers took a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.

Tom Craig leveled things up for the Dragons a minute after the long breather with a scorcher of a tomahawk from the edge of the circle in the fast and furious Hockey India League clash.

Tamil Nadu's Karthi Selvam failed to latch onto a promising ball at the far post in the 38th minute but it was the Kalinga Lancers who manufactured a penalty corner against the run of play for a dangerous ball.

Alexander Hendrickx slotted a penalty corner deflection into the back of the net to give his side a 2-1 lead in the 42nd minute. Prince Deep Singh, who replaced David Harte in goal at half-time, pulled off a save to deny the Belgian a penalty corner hat-trick in the 48th minute.

The Dragons earned their third penalty corner of the match in the 51st minute. Blake Govers' drag flick was run down but Jip Janssen sent the follow-up corner into the back of the net.

Dilpreet Singh, who was a picture of confidence beating David Harte the first time in the shotout that followed, failed to score in sudden death.

At the end of the second round of robin-robin matches the Lancers remain at the bottom of the Hockey India League points table despite having played some brilliant hockey after going down in the shootout 5-6.

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Hockey India League: Updated Points Table Men's League Phase (Friday, January 3)

	PLAYED	WON	LOST	S/O WIN	S/O LOSS	GF	GA	GD	POINTS
UP Rudras	2	2	0	0	0	6	1	+5	6
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers	2	2	0	0	0	5	3	+2	6
Delhi SG Pipers	2	0	0	1	1	4	4	0	3
Tamil Nadu Dragons	2	0	0	1	1	3	3	-0	3
Hyderabad Toofans	2	0	1	1	0	4	5	-1	2
Soorma Hockey Club	2	0	1	1	0	1	4	-3	2
Team Gonasika	2	0	1	0	1	3	4	--1	1
Kalinga Lancers	2	0	1	0	1	3	5	-2	1

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Hockey India League 2024/25: Men's League Fixtures (Saturday, January 4)

Delhi SG Pipers vs Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, 6 pm IST (Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium)

Hyderabad Toofans vs Team Gonasika, 8:15 pm IST (Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium)