10th February 2017: An explosive start to the EuroHockey Indoor Club Cup as we got underway here in Vienna. 4 games in the opening session and no fewer than 34 goals, points won and lost and every moment counted in these games.
East Grinstead 6 – 4 (3 – 2) Dinamo Stroitel Ekaterinburg
The Russians got off to the better start in the opening game, going 2-0 up with out reply. It took East Grinstead until the 6th minute to get on the scoreboard. But they pressed hard to get the or second, which came from a one on one with the keeper. Ross Stott chipped over the keeper and levelled the score. The 3rd goal for EG came from a period of possession, with the Russian defence under pressure. EG went into the half 3-2 up via Martin Scanlon.
Dinamo went ahead via a rocket Artem BORISOV early in the second half, 3-3. Teams exchanged another goal apiece, 4-4 going into the final 5 minutes. A PC for EG which Nick Catlin converted in the 38th minute, followed by Adam Seccull got East Grinstead’s 6th in the 38th minute ensuring the win, and the 5 points on offer. EG coach Richard Organ was very pleased with the win especially as “The Russians started really well going into a 2-0 lead. We adjusted our structures and played really well after that. It’s always good to win the first game of the Tournament”
Uhlenhorst Mulheim 7 – 5 (3 – 4) WKS Grunwald Poznan
The second game of the day was between HTHC and Grunwald. A tight game from the start, Mulheim went ahead 2-0 lead but Grunwald came back and the score at the half was 5-4 in favour of the Polish team! A tighter second half saw less goals and a more tactical game which finished 7-5 to Mulheim.
Partille 2-1 (1-1) AH&BC Amsterdam
The third game of the day was a cracker as Amsterdam were thwarted by an excellent Partille defence. Partille went ahead via Axel STRÖBY but Amsterdam replied in the 17th minute from Tijn LISSONE. Partille went ahead again, Jaokim BJÖRKMAN on the scoresheet. And then it was all Amsterdam as the Swedish keep their heads and defended, in spite of 2 PCs for Amsterdam until the final whistle and took the 5 points.
SV Arminen 6 – 3 (3 – 3) C.H. SPV Complutense
A frantic 4th game, in front of a lively crowd brought the morning session to a close in Vienna in front of a lively home crowd! 3 goals a piece in the first half, but the home team stepped up a gear and took complete control of the second half, scoring 3 more without reply. Complutense pressed hard and earned 2 PCs, both of which hit the post! The final score was 6-3 in favour of the hosts.
All photographs are now online on our FaceBook page (Frank Uijlenbroek (c)
Follow us on Twitter @eurohockeyorg / #EHI2017
Live streaming – click here