After 16 games we now know our finalists, Partille SC have made it to their first ever EuroHockey Indoor final and will face hosts SV Arminen, only the 3rd time in European history that we have no German team in the final.
Match 15: Dinamo Stroitel Ekaterinburg 3 – 4 (1 – 3) Partille SC
What a semi-final! End to end play attacking from both teams. Partille SC opened the scoring via Johan BJORKMAN in the 11th. MELANDER added one in the 16th, his second of the tournament. Stroitel got on the score sheet, a pc strike from AGAFONTSEV in the 16th. The goal-scoring machine aka Johan BJORKMAN pushed Partille ahead 3-1 in the 17th. Score at half time was 1-3.
Stroitel played the whole of the second half with no keeper – a risky move, but as it was a ‘cup’ game, there was no time for caution! AZAROV, made a nuisance of himself in front of goal and was rewarded with a strike on target in the 26th, bringing the margin back to 1 goal. A frantic final ‘quarter’ as both teams got on the scoresheet again. Stroitel had a penalty stroke saved and a final penalty corner to Stroitel went wide, much to the delight of Partille. They held out for the win and their first ever EuroHockey Indoor Final!
Match 16: UHC Hamburg 3 – 3 (2 – 1) (2 – 3 SO) SV Arminen
A dream start for the hosts as Alexander BELE stole the ball and made no mistake with his shot in the 3rd minute. An unreal strike into the top left corner for UHC from SCHMID in the 16th minute from a pc put the teams level. UHC went ahead a minute later from TESCHKE, a lovely pass across goal from MÜLLER. 2-1 to UHC. A fascinating first ended with UHC with a marginal one-goal lead.
UHC went ahead again in the 23rd via SCHMID. Arminen in showing UHC perhaps too much respect and holding back with their attacks. UHC defending deeply generally in the second half, often with only FÜRSTE in Arminen’s half. A powerplay for Arminen, led to a pc in the 33rd minute for Arminen. STEYRER on strike and he roofed it into the back of the net. Seconds later STEYRER on a solo run flicks it past UHC’s keeper, levelling the game with 6 on the clock. UHC pressing hard now for the winner but the Arminen defence held. A final score of 3-3 and the game went to shoot out!
Earlier today Pool C games were played:
Match 13: HC Rotweiss Wettingen 2 – 5 (1 – 2) HC Minsk
A fantastic opening to the Pool C games as the two teams lying bottom of the pool faced eachother. LUTSEVICH opened the scoring for Minsk in this crucial Pool C in the 3rd minute. BRUNNER equalised in the 15th pouncing on a laser-guided. Again Minsk went ahead via BELAVUSAU in the 17th and the score remained 1-2 at the break.
Rotweiss drew level again in the 22nd, but Minsk had the better of the second half and pushed forward with 3 more. Rotweiss were unlucky not to equalise with 2 pc strikes going wide as Minsk breathe a sigh of relief and take all 5 points on offer.
Match 14: AH&BC Amsterdam 3-3 (2-1) Racing Club de Bruxelles
A very tight start to this critical game. Both teams have 5 points and the winner (if there’s one will probably be safe in the division). A patient build-up to the first goal for Amsterdam in the 9th minute with a perfect pass as SCHUT fires home from close range. Amsterdam went ahead again in the 15th BURKHARDT scoring from a slipped pass from TIGGES. 30 seconds later Racing got on the scoresheet via BOON. Turnover ball as he sliced through the defence and finished perfectly. 2-1 at the break
In the second half BOON equalised in the 24th. WEGNEZ put Racing ahead in the 27th. Amsterdam was awarded a pc, which was converted to a ps, which TIGGES put away but it was deemed an illegal action and ruled out! It was still 2-3 to Racing going into the last 5 minutes. A minute later Amsterdam equalised via captain LEIJS. Amsterdam’s BERHART under pressure from BOON drilled the ball into BOON, conceding a penalty corner with 24 seconds on the clock. Amsterdam cleared and the game ended 3-3.
Pool C Ranking:
| R | Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Racing Club de Bruxelles (BEL) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | AH&BC Amsterdam (NED) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| 3 | HC Minsk (BLR) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | HC Rotweiss Wettingen (SUI) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -5 | 1 |
All photographs: World Sport Pics, Frank Uijlenbroek (C)
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All games are being LIVE STREAMED
The # for the event is #EHI2019