Thrilling action unfolded at Kalinga Hockey Stadium as Ranchi Royals defeated Hyderabad Toofans 3-2 in the crucial Men’s HIL 2026 Qualifier-2, earning a place in the final against Vedanta Kalinga Lancers. Tom Boon stole the show with three sensational goals, etching his name in the league’s lore.
The game began explosively. Hyderabad Toofans surged ahead in the 5th minute courtesy of Jacob Anderson’s deflection off a brilliant solo effort by Rajinder Singh, who slalomed through defenders to set up the opener.
Momentum swung dramatically as Ranchi Royals earned back-to-back penalty corners. Boon made no mistake, slamming home goals in the 13th and 15th minutes with assists from the seasoned Manpreet Singh, wresting a 2-1 lead by quarter’s end.
The middle quarters simmered with intent but no goals, as both teams traded chances in a tactical battle. Ranchi Royals broke the impasse post-halftime with Boon’s hat-trick completer in the 34th minute—a penalty corner gem that deceived the goalkeeper and pushed the score to 3-1.
Amandeep Lakra, the Junior World Cup standout, replied swiftly for Hyderabad in the 38th minute, injecting late drama at 3-2. The final 12 minutes saw Toofans dominate possession and win penalty corners, but Ranchi’s goalkeeper and defenders repelled every threat.
This gritty triumph highlights Ranchi Royals’ depth and Boon’s brilliance, positioning them perfectly for Monday’s title decider. Hockey fans are in for a treat as HIL 2026 reaches its crescendo.