CHENNAI: Last-gasp heroics from hat-trick hero Kane Russell sealed a dramatic 3-2 win for HIL Governing Council over SG Pipers in the men’s Hockey India League at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Monday.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Russell (35th, 37th minutes) struck twice in quick succession before netting the winner in the final seconds to complete his hattrick, while Ky Willott (31st) and Dilraj Singh (56th) were on target for Pipers.
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Against the run of play, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha latched on to a long aerial ball and kept it in play with a silky touch. He charged single-handedly towards goal, only for James Mazeralo to rush out, cut down the angle and deny him.
Pipers returned with renewed intensity after the half-half break and broke the deadlock through Willott. Tomas Domene, receiving the ball at the top of the circle, dragged two defenders to his right before turning subtly and laying it off to his left for Willott, who lifted the ball over the ‘keeper.
However, HIL GC hit back in emphatic fashion, scoring twice in the space of two minutes through Russell.