Ranchi Royals beat Hyderabad Toofans 3-2 to reach HIL final

Ranchi Royals defeated Hyderabad Toofans 3-2 in qualifier 2 of the Hockey India League 2026 at Bhubaneswar. Tom Boon’s hat-trick sealed the win, setting up a final clash against Vedanta Kalinga Lancers. Amandeep Lakra and Jacob Anderson scored for Toofans

Bhubaneswar: Ranchi Royals registered a sensational 3-2 win against Hyderabad Toofans in qualifier 2 of the men’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2026 at the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium here on Sunday.

It was a hat-trick of goals by Tom Boon (13, 15, 34) that ensured Royals booked their place in the final against Vedanta Kalinga Lancers on Monday. For Toofans, Jacob Anderson (5) and Amandeep Lakra (38) scored a goal each.

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Hyderabad Toofans got off the blocks with a fine goal by Jacob Anderson in the fifth minute, brilliantly set up by India’s rising midfielder Rajinder Singh, who dribbled past three defenders from the right flank to find Anderson poised for the perfect deflection.

Only seconds earlier, Manpreet Singh had launched a powerful shot from outside the D, but Manmeet Singh was inches away from connecting. The 1-0 lead gave Toofans early momentum, but they conceded two penalty corners to Ranchi Royals, and Tom Boon made them pay.

Boon struck two back-to-back goals in the 13th and 15th minutes, both set up by experienced Manpreet Singh, to end an entertaining opening quarter.

The second quarter remained goalless despite several attempts by both teams. The Royals returned after half-time with clear intent and Boon again delivered in the 34th minute, flicking past the Toofans keeper from another penalty corner to make it 3-1.

Four minutes later, Amandeep Lakra pulled one back for Toofans with a well-executed penalty corner.

The final quarter remained tense, with Toofans pressing hard for an equaliser. They earned a few penalty corners but failed to convert, while the Royals defended strongly to hold on to their 3-2 lead.