HIL 2025-26: SG Pipers secures first win, beats Hyderabad Toofans 2-1

After 13 matches across two seasons, SG Pipers secured its first win as a brace from Tomas Domene and match-saving denials of custodian Tomas Santiago helped it beat Hyderabad Toofans 2-1 in Ranchi on Monday.

Pipers hit the ground running, dominating the opening minutes of the contest. It earned a succession of penalty corners before eventually converting one through Domene’s dragflick in the eighth minute. Pipers had six penalty corners in the first fifteen minutes, while its opponents had none. Toofans grew into the game though, registering five circle entries, but it only had one attempt on goal to show for all its possession.

Toofans was slightly better in the second period. It had 12 circle entries and four penalty corners, registering seven shots on goal, but could not get a goal. Instead, it was SG Pipers that bagged its second goal against the run of play. Roman Duvekot set up Domene (29’) for his brace, giving his side a 2-0 advantage at half time.

Despite the deficit, Toofans remained on the front foot in search of a goal that would get it back in the game. It registered eight circle entries and a couple of penalty corners in the third quarter. Santiago was stellar in goal for Pipers, but his resistance was eventually broken as Amandeep Lakra (41’) found the back of the net with his dragflick.

Clinging onto its one goal advantage, Pipers was resolute in defence to deny wave after wave of Hyderabad attack. Hyderabad Toofans came up with a golden opportunity from a penalty stroke. However, Santiago denied Zachary Wallace from the spot before pulling off a stupendous double save in the dying seconds to ensure SG Pipers got over the line.

Published on Jan 12, 2026