Chennai, 13 January 2026: In the second match of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2025-26, HIL GC won 4-2 against Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons. Kane Russell scored maximum 3 goals. Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons got off to a strong start at the Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Marang Gomke, Ranchi. In the 14th minute of the match, HIL GC won a penalty corner. Hero HIL’s current top goalscorer, Kane Russell gave the team the lead with his seventh goal of the season.
James Mazzarello maintained his high line and kept the Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons under pressure in their own half. In the 23rd minute of the match, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay displayed dribbling skills, taking the ball to the baseline while staying away from his marker and giving a perfect pass to Sam Ward in front of the goal. Sam Warde dived and scored the ball, doubling GC’s lead. Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons started the second half strongly. Blake Govers started scoring in the 32nd minute. However, in the very second minute, HIL GC earned three consecutive penalty corners, and despite the Dragons’ strong defense on the first two attempts, they could not stop Kane Russell (33rd minute). This was Russell’s second goal of the match. From there, the Dragons’ play improved, but they were unlucky in front of goal. In the 39th minute, the Dragons’ Thomas Sorsby showed excellent three-point skills inside the circle and found space in front of the goal, but his slap shot was saved by GC goalkeeper James Mazzarello.
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In the second minute of the final quarter, GC earned a penalty corner. In the 47th minute, Kane Russell came forward and delivered a powerful dragflick that went over the head of Dragons goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh and into the net, completing his third hat-trick of the season. With four minutes left, the Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons fell short. In the 56th minute, Mohammed Raheel delivered a sharp cross from the left, which was met by Uttam Singh, who headed the ball into the net. The Dragons suffered their first defeat of the season as HIL GC topped the table with 10 points. After the match, Tamil Nadu Dragons captain Amit Rohidase told IANS, “The match was great. We didn’t perform well in the first half, but we played better in the second half. We have another match coming up, and we will focus on doing well in that match.”
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