Despite a giant 6–1 victory in the last game of the league stage against SG Pipers, Soorma Hockey Club just failed to make an ultimate dramatic turn around in the final points table of the Men’s Hockey India League 2025-26 (Men’s HIL 2025-26), as the HIL Governing Council have advanced to the Eliminator by securing the fourth place in the points table, thanks to having just better goal-difference (+3) than Soorma Hockey Club (+2).
In the first quarter, Soorma Hockey Club took a 3–0 lead in the match. Australian Jeremy Hayward scored the first two goals, both from penalty corners, in the second and seventh minutes. Argentine Lucas Martínez scored the third goal for Soorma in the 11th minute, which was a field goal. The second quarter didn’t experience any goals.
In the 34th minute, Jeremy Hayward completed his hat-trick from another penalty corner, as Soorma took a 4–0 lead. Argentine Tomás Domene scored the only goal for SG Pipers in the match in the 43rd minute from a penalty corner. Two minutes later, Hayward scored his fourth goal in the match by converting the penalty stroke. In the 47th minute, another Argentine Nicolás Keenan scored a field goal for Soorma, who took a 6–1 lead. Soorma needed two more goals without conceding another to surpass HIL GC, which they couldn’t earn despite strongly battling till the end.
If HIL GC and Soorma HC finished with the same goal difference (+3), HIL GC would still continue in fourth place, thanks to having better goals for record in the tournament.
On Friday (January 23), at first, the third-placed Hyderabad Toofans will face the fourth-placed HIL Governing Council in the Eliminator. Then, the table leader Kalinga Lancers will take on the second-placed Ranchi Royals in Qualifier 1.
Men’s Hockey India League 2025/26 (Men's HIL 2025/26): Soorma Hockey Club vs SG Pipers
Final Scoreline: 6–1
Shots: 2–3
Circle Entries: 42–20
Penalty Corners: 6–3
Penalty Strokes: 1–0
Men’s Hockey India League 2025/26 (Men's HIL 2025/26): Latest Points Table After Match 28
Rank | Team | Played | Won | SOW | SOL | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
1 | Kalinga Lancers | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 8 | +8 | 16 |
2 | Ranchi Royals | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 18 | +7 | 12 |
3 | Hyderabad Toofan Clubs | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 11 |
4 | HIL Governing Council | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 18 | +3 | 11 |
5 | Soorma Hockey Club | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 14 | +2 | 11 |
6 | Tamil Nadu Dragons | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 22 | -3 | 10 |
7 | Shrachi Bengal Tigers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 24 | -8 | 9 |
8 | SG Pipers | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 29 | -15 | 4 |
