Belgian side KHC Dragons have earned quite a reputation for themselves in the EuroHockey League and they did all in their power to maintain that reputation as they took on the mighty UHC Hamburg in the first of then two semi finals here in Amsterdam this afternoon.
Dragons spent a considerable part of the first half in the Hamburg end of the pitch, rocking the Germans on their heals with goals from Loick Luypaert and Felix Denayer. Something must have been said to Hamburg in the changing room at half time, because they came out fighting, with 'Magic' Moritz Furste, the UHC Hamburg captain, scored withinfive minutes. Patrick Breitenstein equalised twenty minutes later from a penalty corner.
The remainder of the match saw plenty of scares at both ends of the pitch but that, and extra time, failed to produce any goals. As is often the case with one-on-one shoot out deciders, it's the early goals that do the damage, and four attempts into the shoot out, Hamburg have one success, as against none of Dragons. So when Charles Vandeweghe's attempt - Dragons fifth of the series - failed cross to the line, that was it. An aggregate 4-3 win to Hamburg.
The other semi final, an all-Dutch affar between Amsterdam and Rotterdam, was a much tamer match. The two sides know each other well, but it appeared that Amsterdam knew more about Rotterdam than the other way around. Goals from Valentin Verga, Don Prins, and Teun Rohof, wrapped it up for Amsterdam with a 3-0 win and a place in tomorrows semi final.
