17th February 2018: An interesting morning here in Wettingen as the ‘on paper’ favourites had a rough time. In Pool B, SV Armenin are in the relegation pool after losing to the ‘new kids on the block’ Racing in their final pool game 3-4. Complutense needed nothing short of a win, which Amsterdam were not prepared to hand them, instead they beat them 0-3 to ensure their place in the semi-finals. In Pool A it is the Russians who have come out on top with 3 wins from 3. The German’s finish 2nd in their pool and now face an on form Amsterdam in the semi-final.
Game 9: SV Arminen 3 – 4 (1 – 0) Racing Club de Bruxelles
With a place in the semi-finals at stake it was a cagey start to the game here in Wettingen. Racing had more chances in the first half, two penalty corners and one penalty stroke went abegging without any score. A turnover from Rachwalski in the 18th minute produced a fine goal as he made himself available for the pass that would beat the Belgian keeper. 1-0 to Armenin. Armenin attacked early in second half and earned a pc which Rachwalski converted. 2-0. Racing came back into the game with a Boon pc, 2-1. Racing equalised in the 30th minute via Maraite. Racing went for a power play in the closing minutes of the game, a risky move and Armenin took advantage and scored to go ahead. A frantic few minutes with Armenin going ahead and then in overtime Racing earned a corner and converted winning the game 3-4. They need to await their fate now to see if it was enough to make it into the semi-final.
Game 10: C.H. SPV Complutense v AH&BC Amsterdam 0-3 (0-0)
A very intense game, which, if Complutense could win would put them and Amsterdam into the semi-finals. A cagey first half lead to a scoreless scoreboard at half time, and then it was ‘game on’ in the second half. Complutense held off the Amsterdam attacks, but finally conceded in the 30th minute to a scrappy goal from Horn. They then had to take the gamble and play the power play, pressing forward, only to concede a corner which Luijs flicked into the top corner. 0-2. The final goal came in the 38th minute from Burkhardt. Complutense threw themselves into the game applauded their very fervent supporters, but a semi-final place has eluded them as Amsterdam made it 3 from 3.
Game 11: Dinamo Elektrostal Surbiton HC 4 – 2 (3 – 1)
Nothing short of a win would be good enough for Surbiton so they had to take some chances with power plays which didn’t work out for them as they went down 3-1 in the first half. The final score of 4-2 means that Elektrostal finish the Pool with a maximum 15 points.
Game 12: Rot-Weiss Koln v HC Rotweiss Wettingen 4-3 (3-1)
A tough final game as some very serious home pride in front of a packed house in Wettingen pushed the hosts to work hard for every ball. Koln had the better of the first half with a 3-1 reflecting that. A very driven second half saw the hosts Wettingen push the German’s to a 4-3 scoreline and almost equalised with a pc in the last minute which was deflected by the German defence over the bar. The 4-3 scoreline puts the Germans second in the Pool facing an on form Amsterdam in the semi-final later today.
This afternoon’s games:
| 16:30 | 4th Pool A – ARMINEN | Pool C | ||
| 17:45 | 3rd Pool A – COMPLUTENSE | Pool C | ||
| 19:00 | 1st Pool A – RACINGBRUX | Semi-Final 1 | ||
| 20:15 | AMSTERDAM – 2nd Pool A | Semi-Final 2 |