HIL 2024-25 semifinal scenarios: Which teams can qualify for final four stage of Hockey India League?
The semifinal race for the Hockey India League (HIL) is tantalisingly set up with three teams – Soorma Hockey Club, Tamil Nadu Dragons and UP Rudras – in the fray on the final league stage day.
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (18 points and 1st) and Hyderabad Toofans (18 and 2nd) have booked their berths with two spots up for grabs on Wednesday.
Tigers will take on Soorma in an early evening clash, while a potential straight shoot-out in the offing between Dragons and Rudras is in the offing in the final league game.
Sportstar looks at the scenarios for each team to qualify for the last four stages:
| Position | Team | MP | W | SO W | L | SO L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| 1. | Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 18 |
| 2. | Hyderabad Toofans | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 16 | 10 | 18 |
| 3. | JSW Soorma Hockey Club | 9 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 17 |
| 4. | Tamil Nadu Dragons | 9 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 21 | -1 | 17 |
| 5. | UP Rudras | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 15 |
Soorma Hockey Club (17 points – 3rd)
Since both Soorma and Dragons have 17 points and four outright wins apiece, the former edges ahead due to a superior goal difference. A draw against Tigers will be enough for the Harmanpreet Singh-led side to reach the semifinal.
A defeat by not more than a two-goal margin will keep Soorma above Dragons and take it into the final four.
Tamil Nadu Dragons (17 points – 4th)
A win or a draw against Rudras will seal Dragons’ position in the semifinal.
ALSO READ | HIL: Belgium’s Victor Wegnez feeling at home in India with Soorma Hockey Club
If it loses to Rudras, Dragons will need the following scenario to unfold: not get beat by more than a goal and hope that Soorma loses its game by a margin of three or more.
If both Soorma and Dragons finish level on points, outright wins and goal difference, they will be separated by most field goals scored. As it stands, Dragons lead Soorma by 11-8.
UP Rudras (15 points – 5th)
A win or a draw can take Rudras into the semifinal.
If Soorma loses to Tigers and Rudras vs Dragons ends in a draw, Rudras will need to win the resulting penalty shoot-out to go level on points with Soorma. Then Rudras’ five outright wins will take it through at the expense of Soorma.
Tie-breaker used if teams finish level on points:
1) Number of outright wins
2) Goal difference
3) Number of field goals scored
4) Head-to-head results of the two teams looking at first the number of points, the goal difference and the number of goals scored