With their campaign hanging in the balance, Hyderabad Toofans delivered a composed and resilient performance to secure a crucial 3–2 victory over HIL GC in their final league-stage fixture of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2025–26 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
The narrow win not only kept the Toofans’ playoff ambitions alive but also lifted them into third place on the points table, underscoring their ability to respond under pressure when it mattered most.
Facing a do-or-die scenario, the Toofans knew that anything less than a win would likely spell the end of their season. Against a competitive HIL GC side that began the match with early control of possession, Hyderabad were forced to dig deep, balance urgency with discipline, and make the most of their opportunities in both circles.
HIL GC started brightly, dictating the tempo in the opening minutes and testing Hyderabad’s defensive structure with controlled build-up play. However, it was the Toofans who struck first against the run of play. In the sixth minute, they capitalised on a penalty corner, with Zachary Wallace’s dragflick taking a decisive deflection and sneaking past goalkeeper James Mazarelo to give Hyderabad an early lead.
The response from HIL GC was immediate and emphatic. Just two minutes later, they earned their first penalty corner of the night, and Kane Russell once again demonstrated why he remains one of the league’s most reliable dragflickers. His powerful effort beat the goalkeeper cleanly to restore parity and bring the contest level at 1–1.
The opening quarter continued at a frantic pace, with both sides trading attacks and set-piece opportunities. Hyderabad, showing the urgency befitting a must-win encounter, struck back almost instantly. From their second penalty corner of the match, Amandeep Lakra unleashed a fierce dragflick that left the goalkeeper with no chance, restoring the Toofans’ lead and ensuring they finished a pulsating first quarter ahead at 2–1.
Buoyed by that advantage, Hyderabad carried their momentum into the second quarter. They pressed higher up the pitch, forced errors in midfield, and created multiple circle entries that kept the HIL GC defence under sustained pressure. Mazarelo was called into action repeatedly, producing a series of sharp saves to prevent the scoreline from widening.
Eventually, the pressure told. In the 27th minute, Shilanand Lakra found space inside the circle and reacted quickest to a loose ball, slotting it home from close range to give the Toofans a commanding 3–1 lead. At that stage, Hyderabad appeared to have seized full control of the contest.
Yet, HIL GC refused to fade. Despite trailing by two goals, they continued to create chances with regularity, probing Hyderabad’s defence and looking to draw fouls inside the circle. Their persistence was rewarded immediately after the break. Just one minute into the third quarter, Kane Russell struck again from a penalty corner, converting his second dragflick of the evening to cut the deficit to 3–2 and set up a tense second half.
With only a single goal separating the teams, the match opened up into a tactical battle. Both sides showed attacking intent, but also greater caution, aware that one mistake could prove decisive. Hyderabad focused on maintaining their defensive shape while looking to exploit counter-attacking opportunities, whereas HIL GC steadily increased the tempo, searching for an equaliser.
The final quarter belonged largely to HIL GC in terms of territory and pressure. They registered an impressive 18 circle entries in the last 15 minutes alone, pinning Hyderabad deep in their own half. However, the Toofans’ defence stood firm. Their backline remained compact, cutting out passing lanes, blocking shots, and clearing danger efficiently whenever HIL GC threatened to break through.
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Goalkeeper support and disciplined defending ensured that Hyderabad weathered the storm, frustrating HIL GC’s repeated attempts to force a leveller. Despite sustained pressure and several promising moments, HIL GC could not find a way past the resolute Toofans defence.
When the final whistle blew, the relief and celebration among the Hyderabad players was evident. The 3–2 victory secured all three points and propelled the Toofans into third place on the standings, keeping their playoff hopes firmly alive heading into the business end of the season. For HIL GC, the defeat saw them slip to fourth place, leaving them with work to do to consolidate their own position in the race for the semifinals.
Beyond the points, the result highlighted Hyderabad Toofans’ ability to respond under pressure, combining set-piece efficiency with defensive resilience. In a league where margins are often razor-thin, their composure in a high-stakes encounter may yet prove decisive in shaping their season.
