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. The women of Düsseldorfer HC are also in the semi-finals.
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).
Semifinals on Easter Sunday
The semi-finals will take place on Easter Sunday (1.45 p.m.), the opponent has not yet been determined. “We woke up in time,” said Rot-Weiss captain Mats Grambusch, whose team, seeded as vice-champion for the quarter-finals, had been chasing a deficit 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.
Compensation just before the end
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.
Düsseldorfer HC in the semifinals
The women of Düsseldorfer HC are also in the semi-finals. The German champions, who were the only Bundesliga team to compete, also had to go into the shootout against the English permanent champion Surbiton HC after a 1:1 (0:1) over 60 minutes and won there 3:1.
The semifinals will take place on Easter Sunday (11.30 a.m.) against the winner of the Dutch duel between Den Bosch and SCHC.
