UP Rudras climbed to the top of the Hockey India League (HIL) standings after a 2-0 win over Team Gonasika at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Tuesday. The defeat leaves Gonasika’s semifinal hopes hanging by a thread, with only two matches remaining.
Tanguy Cosyns and Kane Russell struck in the third quarter with their drag-flicks to take the Rudras above Tamil Nadu Dragons in the points table and help complete a league double over Gonasika.
Both Rudras and Gonasika are among the league’s lowest-scoring sides, and the opening half reflected their cautious approach, with neither team able to break the deadlock. The battle for midfield supremacy was intense, but the Rudras gained the upper hand, led by skipper Hardik Singh, Cosyns, and Floris Wortelboer.
In the second quarter, the Rudras had a promising opportunity after Hardik intercepted a pass in midfield and made a piercing run through the centre. He passed the ball to Gurjot Singh up front and continued sprinting down the left, hoping for a return pass, but it never arrived. Hardik was visibly frustrated as a rare opening was squandered.
The first half ended with a flurry of penalty corners for the Rudras, which Gonasika goalkeeper Oliver Payne did well to save. However, the decision to award the penalty corners did not please Gonasika, as head coach Paul Revington and defender Tim Howard remonstrated with the referee when the hooter went off for half-time.
Revington had more reasons to be upset after the break when his team went a goal down. Victor Charlet had a forgettable few minutes, fluffing his drag-flick at one end before being drawn into a dummy at the other during his duties as the first rusher. Russell received the ball from the second battery before cleverly sliding it behind him to Cosyns, who sounded the board with his drag-flick.
Gonasika looked to respond immediately through a penalty corner, but James Albery and Wortelboer brilliantly combined to keep the ball out, with the latter clearing it off the line.
The Rudras sealed the win when Russell’s low drag-flick found its way past Suraj Karkera, who had replaced Payne in goal, as he failed to get a strong enough hand to keep the ball out.
RESULT:
UP Rudras 2 (Tanguy Cosyns 37’, Kane Russell 40’) bt Team Gonasika 0
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