Soorma Hockey Club 1-2 Odisha Warriors Final Highlights, Women's Hockey India League: Rutuja Brace Hands Neha & Co Inaugural Title

Odisha Warriors

Defenders: Ishika Chaudhary, Claire Colwil (Australia), Jyoti Chhatri, Anjali Barwa, Lilly Paulin Stoffelsma (Germany)

Midfielders: Neha Goyal, Yibbi Jansen (Netherlands), Kaitlin Jaye Nobbs (Australia), Baljeet Kaur, Sonika, Victoria Sauze (Argentina), Nisha, Nandni

Forwards: Freeke Georgette Marie (Netherlands), Annu, Rituja Dadaso Pisal, Sakshi Rana, Kanika Siwach, Michelle Fillet (Netherlands), Sadhna

Goalkeepers: Jocelyn Bartram (Australia), Madhuri Kindo, Engil Harsha Rani Minz

Soorma Hockey Club

Defenders: Nikki Pradhan, Jyoti, Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Preeti, Penny Squibb (Australia), Anna Toman (Great Britain)

Midfielders: Salima Tete, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Nike Lorenz, Maria Verschoor, Hina Bano, Jimena Maria Cedras (Argentina), Aishwarya Rajesh Chavan, Ajmina Kujur

Forwards: Sharmila Devi, Charlotte Englebert (Belgium), Charlotte Stapenhorst (Germany), Deepika Soreng, Sonam, Upasana Singh, Amanpreet Kaur

Goalkeepers: Savita Punia, Nidhi, Natalia Salvador (Chile)

Here's how the two teams line up ahead of pushback in Ranchi:

Both teams are out on the pitch and have been introduced. The dignitaries, including Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, also stride out and are greeting each player. The match will begin shortly.

We are underway in Ranchi. Soorma attacking from right to left, and Odisha from left to right in the first half.

Soorma are without Charlotte Englebert for five full minutes, as the star midfielder has been handed a yellow card for a rough tackle on an Odisha Warriors player.

No harm done for Soorma, who navigate the period with 10 players on the pitch without any goal conceded. The second quarter beginning shortly.

The players are back in action after a tiny breather. We still await the opening goal of the evening.

We have the opening goal of the match in the second quarter. It comes from the stick of Rutuja Pisal, who is in the right place at the right time for a tap in to catch the Soorma defence unawares. The Odisha Warriors are in the lead.

Soorma find the equaliser, barely two minutes before half-time. Penny Squibb drills in a well-placed drag-flick past the Odisha goalie to find the bottom left of the net. The Warriors concede off a penalty corner, and we are all level after the first two quarters.

The third quarter has begun on a great note for Soorma, who are pressing forward in numbers and putting the Warriors defence under pressure. Let's see if it results in a goal anytime soon.

We will head into the final quarter with the scoreline still at 1-1, as no goals result in Q3. A humdinger is on the cards.

Rutuja Pisal strikes again! The Odisha Warriors forward finds the perfect angle to slide her shot past the seasoned Savita Punia in the Soorma circle. And Neha Goyal and Co now have one hand on the title, with four minutes left in the match for another comeback from Soorma.

That's it. The final hooter rings out, and Odisha Warriors hold on in the last few seconds to emerge victorious 2-1. They are jubilant, having claimed the first-ever Women's Hockey India League title. And it is redemption of sorts for Janneke Schopman, the Warriors mentor whose India wards had faced Paris Olympics disqualification last year at the same venue, against the same Jude Menezes' (Soorma coach) Japan.