Alexander Hendrickx scored two goals, propelling Vedanta Kalinga Lancers to a 2-1 victory over Ranchi Royals in the Men’s Hockey India League semi-final at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Hendrickx opened the scoring with a penalty corner conversion in the first quarter, giving his team a 1-0 lead.
Ranchi Royals fought back in the second quarter, creating opportunities with 6 circle entries and 4 penalty corners. Despite their efforts, the Lancers’ solid defense maintained their one-goal advantage going into halftime.
The second half saw Hendrickx extend the lead with another penalty corner goal, making it 2-0. However, Ranchi Royals responded with a goal from Mandeep Singh to narrow the gap to 2-1 by the end of the third quarter. The final quarter was intense, but the Lancers held on for a 2-1 win, securing their spot in the league final.
Ranchi Royals will face Hyderabad Toofans in Qualifier 2 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Sunday.
