JSW Soorma Hockey Club pulled off a remarkable victory by defeating league leaders Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 2-1 in Match 26 of the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2025-26 season at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Despite playing their final league match, the Lancers, who were at the top of the table, couldn’t overcome the resilient Soorma side, keeping Soorma’s slim playoff hopes alive. Victor Wegnez was honored as the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance in both attack and defense.
The game started cautiously, with both teams focusing on safety in the initial five minutes. Although the Lancers had the first opportunity in the 6th minute through Henderson, the Soorma defense held strong. Despite the Lancers dominating possession, Soorma posed a threat on the counter and earned the first penalty corner in the 10th minute.
Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flick missed the target, and the Lancers almost scored from a penalty corner in the last minute of the quarter, but goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch made two crucial saves to keep the score goalless at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, both teams maintained their structured play. Soorma’s captain, Harmanpreet Singh, tried to set up Lucas Martinez in the 17th minute, but the breakthrough came in the 23rd minute after a spell of consistent passing. Nicolas Keenan’s shot was saved by the goalkeeper, but Jeetpal capitalized on the rebound to give Soorma a 1-0 lead.
The Lancers struggled to equalize, and their frustration grew, leading to Dilpreet Singh receiving a yellow card in the dying moments of the first half. With a man advantage in the second half, Soorma intensified their pressure and managed to score again through Vivek Sagar Prasad, extending their lead to 2-0.
Despite a strong offensive push from the Lancers, goalkeeper Vanasch thwarted their attempts. The Lancers managed to score in the 48th minute through Henderson but fell short of an equalizer despite a late surge. Soorma, guided by Victor Wegnez, defended resolutely in the final moments to secure a crucial victory.
