Vedanta Kalinga Lancers continued their commanding run in the Men’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26 with a comprehensive 6–1 victory over SG Pipers at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Saturday.
Opening the Bhubaneswar leg in emphatic fashion, the table-toppers stretched their winning streak to five matches and once again underlined why they have emerged as the benchmark side of the season.
Boby Singh Dhami was deservedly named Player of the Match for an outstanding playmaking performance that dictated the tempo of the contest and repeatedly unsettled the Pipers’ defensive structure. Cooper Burns and Alexander Hendrickx scored two goals each, while Craig Marais and Angad Singh added one apiece in a performance that combined attacking fluency with defensive solidity. KY Williot scored the lone goal for SG Pipers in what proved to be a difficult evening for the visitors.
From the opening whistle, the Lancers asserted control, moving the ball with purpose and confidence across the midfield. Their pressure translated into an early breakthrough in the eighth minute when Cooper Burns found space inside the circle and finished clinically to give his side the lead. The goal was the result of sustained attacking pressure, with the Lancers forcing the Pipers deeper into their own half.
The momentum continued just two minutes later. A slick passing move carved open the Pipers’ defence, allowing Craig Marais to double the advantage with a well-taken finish in the 10th minute. Stunned by the quick double blow, SG Pipers responded positively and found a lifeline almost immediately. In the 11th minute, captain Jarmanpreet Singh created space down the right flank and squared the ball for KY Williot, who made no mistake to pull one back and reduce the deficit to 2–1.
That brief resurgence injected some urgency into the Pipers’ play, and they pushed hard towards the end of the first quarter. A late penalty corner offered a chance to level the scores, but the Lancers’ defence held firm, ensuring they went into the first break with their advantage intact.
The second quarter saw SG Pipers begin aggressively, pressing higher up the pitch in search of an equaliser. However, the Lancers’ defensive unit, marshalled effectively by goalkeeper Krishan Pathak, remained composed under pressure. Pathak’s calm presence proved decisive as the Pipers looked to build momentum through quick counterattacks and set-pieces.
In the 23rd minute, the Lancers struck again against the run of play. A sudden turnover in midfield allowed Boby Singh Dhami to release Cooper Burns into space, and the forward made no mistake, scoring his second goal of the night to restore a two-goal cushion at 3–1. The goal proved to be a major psychological blow for the Pipers, who soon found themselves frustrated by missed opportunities.
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That frustration deepened when the Pipers earned four successive penalty corners shortly after. Despite the sustained pressure, Pathak produced a series of excellent saves, denying the Pipers on multiple occasions and ensuring the Lancers went into halftime with a comfortable lead.
The pattern continued into the third quarter, with SG Pipers attempting to push forward but struggling to penetrate the well-organised Lancers’ backline. The league leaders absorbed the pressure patiently, waiting for the right moment to strike. That moment arrived in the 39th minute when the Lancers earned a penalty corner following a powerful attacking run.
Specialist Alexander Hendrickx stepped up and unleashed a trademark drag-flick, firing the ball past the goalkeeper with pace and precision to make it 4–1. The goal further tilted the contest firmly in the Lancers’ favour. Williot attempted to spark a response for the Pipers with a determined run into the circle late in the quarter, but Pathak once again stood tall to deny any comeback hopes.
The final quarter was a professional exhibition from the table-toppers. While the Pipers missed a point-blank tap-in in the 52nd minute, the Lancers remained ruthless. In the 54th minute, Angad Singh added the fifth goal with a composed finish, capitalising on sustained pressure inside the circle.
Just two minutes later, Alexander Hendrickx struck again from a penalty corner, hammering home his second goal of the night to seal a convincing 6–1 victory. The goal summed up the Lancers’ efficiency, as they punished every lapse in concentration from their opponents.
The emphatic win keeps Vedanta Kalinga Lancers comfortably at the top of the standings and reinforces their status as the form team of the tournament. Their balance across all departments, combined with individual brilliance and collective discipline, continues to set them apart.
Action in the Men’s Hero Hockey India League continues on Sunday, with SG Pipers set to face Shrachi Bengal Tigers at 5:00 PM, followed by Vedanta Kalinga Lancers taking on Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons at 7:30 PM as they look to extend their impressive run even further.
