Field Hockey Finals in Krefeld: Cologne and Krefeld Clash in Showdown, Düsseldorf Women Defend Title
Women's Hockey Team Advances to Final; Showdown with West in Men's Match - Women's DHC Hockey Team Progresses to Finals; Showdown with the Men's Team Awaits
Get your popcorn ready, folks! The action is heating up in Krefeld as the Düsseldorf HC ladies and the men from Crefelder HTC and Rot-Weiss Köln gear up for the German field hockey championship finals.
Crefelder HTC, the underdogs of the tournament, clinched their spot in the finals with a thrilling 4:2 victory over Hamburg Polo Club on Saturday. Coach Johannes Schmitz couldn't hide his excitement, "We played some exceptional, offensive hockey. The energy from the crowd really fueled us!"
Philipp Jansen (55th minute) and Lucas Bachmann (57th) sealed the deal for Krefeld in front of 3,400 spectators, after earlier equalizers from Masi Pfandt (9th) and Lachlan Sharp (28th) had put Hamburg in the lead.
Meanwhile, Cologne snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against defending champions Mannheimer HC, winning 4:3 on penalties after the match ended 1:1 following 60 minutes of play. The weather delayed the game by an hour, but Michel Struthoff managed to score the deciding penalty to send Cologne to the finals.
Düsseldorf, reigning champions among the ladies, finished off Großflottbeker THGC with a nail-biting 2:1 victory on Saturday. Match winner Lisa Nolte scored a stunning solo goal just 22 minutes from the end, securing Düsseldorf's spot in the finals. "I just sensed the ball, and I didn't plan on scoring that goal right then, but I saw my chance and took it," recounted Nolte. Earlier, Friederike Heusgen equalized Hamburg's lead.
Düsseldorf will face Harvestehuder THC, who upset main round winners Mannheimer HC 1:0, in the final on Sunday at 11:30. However, Düsseldorf is sweating over their team captain Selin Oruz, who injured her hand while defending a penalty corner. "I think it's broken, I'm headed to the hospital now to see if they can help me. I want to play!" stated Oruz, a national player and part-time doctor at the Krefeld clinic.
Final matches will take place on Sunday – don't miss out on all the drama!
- Final (Men)
- Crefelder HTC vs. Rot-Weiss Köln
- Final (Women)
- Düsseldorf HC vs. Harvestehuder THC
- Date
- Sunday, TBC
If you're looking for more information on the championship, check out the latest updates on local sports news or the official German Hockey Federation website. Happy hockey-watching! 😎🏒
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft regulation of sports, specifically field hockey, in the European Union.
Coach Schemmel, from the Commission, expressed enthusiasm, likening the progress of field hockey in the EU to the offensive strategies used in a game of hockey, aimed at protecting the financial interests of the Union.
