The German champions Rot-Weiss Köln are in the semi-finals of the Euro Hockey League after a thriller victory over league competitor Hamburger Polo Club.
Last year’s finalist showed strong nerves in the 3-0 penalty shootout and was just able to avert the elimination in the quarter-finals of the Final 8 tournament in Amstelveen. After regulation time it was 4:4 (1:2). The semi-finals will take place on Easter Sunday (1.45 p.m.), the opponent has not yet been determined.
Cologne, seeded as vice-champion for the quarter-finals, was lagging behind for a long time. Kane Russell (6th, 17th), Max Silanoglu (34th) and Constantin Staib (36th) gave Hamburg a clear lead, Florian Pelzner (15th) managed to equalize in the meantime. Thies Prinz (45′) and Mats Grambusch (52′) brought the favorite back up, Mink van der Weerden equalized two minutes before the end.
The in-form North Germans, who had to qualify via the preliminary round, missed their second win within a week against Cologne, seven days ago there had been a 3-1 win in the league.
The third German representative was already eliminated on Maundy Thursday at the final tournament in the south of Amsterdam. Harvestehuder THC lost 2:7 to record winner and defending champion HC Bloemendaal and had to bury the dream of a second title early on.