Rourkela Rourkela: Delhi SG Pipers ended their winning streak in the Women's Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 with a 2-0 win against table toppers, JSW Soorma Hockey Club at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Friday. Sangeeta Kumari (25') gave Delhi SG Pipers the lead in the second quarter and Deepika (47') scored the second goal in the last quarter to register their first win of the season. Delhi SG Pipers started the match strongly, displaying effortless ball movement and effectively restricting the opposition's passing lanes.
Meanwhile, JSW Soorma Hockey Club displayed an excellent defensive structure which successfully denied the Pipers any clear scoring opportunities despite mounting pressure. Midway through the quarter, the Pipers earned a penalty corner, but Stephanie De Gruff's effort failed to trouble Savita on goal. The HIL release said that Surma increased its pace towards the end of the quarter, making it an end-to-end game, but neither team was able to score.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Surma showed momentum, gained possession in the midfield and reached the Pipers' circle, but failed to score. Their pressure earned them a penalty corner, but Jyoti's effort was blocked.
The Pipers pushed the Surmas back and created several scoring opportunities, which changed the momentum. However, Savita performed brilliantly in goal. With six minutes left in the quarter, the Pipers took advantage of a penalty corner when Sangeeta Kumari deflected Stephanie de Gruff's shot into the net, the first goal of the season for Delhi SG Pipers. The Pipers earned several penalty corners towards the end of the quarter, but Surma's Maria Verschoor and the defensive unit did their best to prevent any threat to goal.
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