12th February 2017: The final day in Vienna did not disappoint as Uhlenhorster Mulheim are crowned Champions of Europe! We started the day with the Pool C, relegation and no team was safe, so both games were essential to see who would stay and who would go from the division. Then Amsterdam overcame East Grinstead to take bronze, and after an epic battle in the Final, the Germans overcame their hosts to take the title.
Partille SC 3 – 4 WKS Grunwald Poznan
A game of passion and 100% commitment from both teams as everything was at stake! A brilliant spin by Bjorkman in the 12th minute gave Partille the lead in this crucial relegation match. They doubled their lead in the 17th minute. Grunwald responding in the 18th. The score of 2-1 held into the break. In the 29th minute a rocket from Hemvik restored Partille’s 2 goal advantage. But Grunwald kept pressing and were rewarded with a goal from Dutkiewicz from a tight angle with 5 to play. Mikula scored again to level the score. Grunwald won the game in the final minute from a direct PC shot. Partille are relegated and Grunwald now needed to await the outcome of the next game!
Dinamo Stroitel Ekaterinburg 1 – 1 (1-1) C.H. SPV Complutense
A nice start to the game as a lovely finish from Nikitin after good work from Mikheichyk gave Dinamo Stroitel the lead in the 6th minute. Complutense replied with a PC from Rickli in the 10th minute. The score remained 1-1 at the half. The second half was a tactical game for both teams, both now safe in the division, neither team wanted to make any errors. The final score of 1-1 guaranteed both teams a slot in the Championship division in 2018.
Bronze Medal Game: AH&BC Amsterdam 4 – 2 (1 – 0) East Grinstead
Amsterdam and East Grinstead locked horns for the Bronze medal here in Vienna. A tactical start to the game as both tested eachother. Not too many changes in the opening 10 minutes. The deadlock was broken by Tigges after a neat passing move which he finished in style! The score remained 1-0 at the break as EG soaked up the pressure. Tigges doubled their lead in the 25th minute with a classy strike, after a turnover by Amsterdam. BURKHARDT got their third. EG did launch a late come back courtesy of ALLBERRY and KILPPER, but it wasn’t enough to change the result. Amsterdam take the Bronze!
The Final: Uhlenhorst Mulheim 3 – 2 (1 – 1) SV Arminen
An immense battle happened here in Vienna on the Indoor court in the Wiener Stadthalle. Armenin went straight on the attack from the start. A PC in the 3rd minute to Mulheim but was easily saved off by line by the Armenin defence. A solid save in the 7th minute by the Armenin keeper SZYMCZYK kept Armenin ahead but Mulheim kept going and in the 14th minute Stralkowski was fouled and awarded a PC, another geat save by Armenin! 30 seconds before the break, Stralkowski converted one of Mulheim’s chances to level the game up 1-1. And so it remained going into the break.
Immediately after the break Mulheim earned a stroke for a foul on Stralkowski which Herzbruch easily converted – 2-1 to the Germans. Armenin were under constant attack from the Germans in the second half. A power play for Armenin in the 32nd minute was risky as Herzbruch went on the attack only to be thwarted by a super tackle from Froehlich. Mulhiem won a corner and somehow it was kept out! The final few minutes were full of drama as Armenin threw everything at the game. The won a PC, and scored bringing the score to a tight 3-2. But just a little too late as Mulheim prevailed and the final score remained 3-2 in favour of the Germans.
The Highlights:
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