Belgian Star's Strike Keeps Kalinga Lancers Unbeaten in Hockey India League
Vedanta Kalinga Lancers continued their impressive form in the Hockey India League with a narrow victory over Hyderabad Toofans on Wednesday. The match took place in Ranchi and saw the league leaders extend their unbeaten run thanks to a crucial goal from Alexander Hendrickx.
Decisive Moment in the Third Quarter
Alexander Hendrickx broke the deadlock in the 40th minute of the game. The Belgian international converted a penalty corner to score his fifth goal of the tournament. This solitary strike proved enough to secure all three points for the Lancers.
The goal came after a defensive error from Hyderabad Toofans. It was only the second penalty corner of the match for the Lancers, but Hendrickx made it count with a clinical finish.
Match Statistics Tell a Story
Despite the victory, the match statistics revealed an interesting contest. Hyderabad Toofans actually dominated possession and created more opportunities in several areas:
- Toofans made 30 circle penetrations compared to Lancers' 23
- The Hyderabad side had more ball possession in the opening quarters
- Toofans registered 12 circle entries in the second period alone
However, the Lancers showed greater efficiency in front of goal. They managed five shots on target compared to Toofans' three attempts. This clinical edge ultimately made the difference in a tightly contested match.
Lancers' Defensive Strength Continues
Prior to this match, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers had conceded only three goals throughout the tournament. They maintained this defensive solidity against Hyderabad Toofans, keeping another clean sheet.
The team had needed a shootout to overcome Hockey India GC in their previous encounter. This time, they secured victory within regulation time, showing improved composure under pressure.
Key Moments Before the Winner
The match saw several near misses before Hendrickx's decisive intervention. Australian forward Liam Henderson came close to opening the scoring in the first half when his shot hit the post.
In the third quarter, Angad Bir Singh and Cooper Burns combined brilliantly to create another opportunity. Singh's shot, however, struck the side goalpost, keeping the scores level temporarily.
League Standings and Context
With this victory, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers now have 11 points from four matches. They remain at the top of the eight-team Hockey India League table, maintaining their perfect start to the season.
This represents a significant improvement from last season when the team finished in sixth position. The current unbeaten run demonstrates their transformation into genuine title contenders.
Evening's Second Match: Royals Dominate Pipers
In the later game at the same venue, Ranchi Royals delivered a commanding performance against SG Pipers. Belgian forward Tom Boon starred with an incredible five-goal haul, supported by a strike from Mandeep Singh.
The 6-2 victory featured an exciting back-and-forth in the first half. Mandeep Singh opened the scoring in the 13th minute, followed by Boon's first goal four minutes later.
SG Pipers equalized twice through Tomas Domane and Gareth Furlong. However, Tom Boon took complete control in the second half, scoring four more goals to secure a comprehensive win.
Boon now leads the tournament's scoring charts with 10 goals, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in the competition.
