Hockey India League 2025-26 Points Table: Updated Women's HIL standings on January 1

The round-robin league phase of the Hockey India League witnessed an enthralling goalfest with SG Pipers coming from behind to draw level at 3-3 in regulation time against the Bengal Tigers. The Tigers then edged their opponents via sudden death (4-3) in the nerve-wracking shootout that followed in Ranchi on Thursday (January 1).

With Lalremsiami in the thick of things, the Tigers did well to launch a barrage of attacks, thus making an important statement following a disastrous show against the Ranchi Royals in their previous game.

Agustina Gorzelany was unstoppable from the top of the circle for the Tigers. Trailing 1-3 in the final quarter, the SG Pipers slotted in a couple of goals at the death, thus forcing the first shootout of the ongoing Hockey India League.

Jennifer Rizzo, who conceded five goals against the Royals, pulled off a series of brilliant saves, much to the delight of coach Deepak Thakur.

Victoria Manuele forced a foray as early as the opening minute with the Bengal Tigers displaying their attacking intent right from the outset, while the Pipers were denied by the goalpost in the fifth minute.

Agustina Gorzelany's drag flick was stopped by Bansari Solanki before Deepak Thakur's team earned a re-award in the sixth minute. Gorzelany found the back of the net this time around with Sofie Gierts' chargers conceding their first goal of the ongoing Hockey India League in their third game.

The Pipers manufactured a penalty corner for a stick tackle on Teresa Viana in the ninth minute. Navneet Kaur's team won a follow-up corner with Lola Riera sending the ball screaming into the low right corner of the Tigers' goal in the 10th minute.

A dreadful turnover in the attacking third had Lalremsiami coming up with a clever steal before striking the ball into the Pipers' goal herself, allowing her team to regain the lead a minute later.

Shileima Chanu conceded a soft penalty corner in the 18th minute. Agustina Gorzelany scored her second by craftily slicing goalkeeper Bansari Solanki and Lola Riera at the post with her angled drag-flick.

Even as a lofted long ball was played in for Teresa Viana in the 28th minute, Monika deliberately backed into the Uruguayan striker to prevent her from latching onto the aerial. Although Viana wanted a penalty stroke, what the Pipers got was a penalty corner with Valentina Raposo at the left post, managing to stop Lola Riera's drag flick.

Teresa Viana came alive vigorously in the third quarter, narrowly missing the mark with a tomahawk from close range, with the Pipers failing to convert the penalty corner that followed.

The Pipers pulled their goalkeeper to allow for an extra on-field player and reaped the rewards almost instantly.

Navneet Kaur's indirect off a penalty corner was deflected into the goal by Sunelita Toppo after Sushila Chanu was asked to leave the field for not wearing a face mask while defending the set piece in the 59th minute.

Lola Riera scored off a penalty stroke in the final minute despite not managing to strike the ball cleanly. Deepak Thakur's team have moved up to the second position on the Hockey India League points table by virtue of winning the shootout.

Hockey India League: Updated Points Table Women's League Phase (Thursday, January 1)

Hockey India League 2024-25: Women's League Fixtures (Friday, January 2)

Ranchi Royals vs Soorma Hockey Club, 7:30 pm IST (Jaipal Singh Stadium, Ranchi)

Edited by Subhashish Majumdar