Day 2 of the Euro Hockey League KO16 event was just as exciting as the first, as some of the most famous club teams in Europe went into battle aiming to secure a place in the Quarter Finals. 2003 European Champions Reading HC (ENG) managed to pull off a shock result by defeating 2004 champions RC de Polo de Barcelona (ESP) 1-0 thanks to an outstanding defensive display, while H.C. Rotterdam (NED) eased their way past WKS Grunwald Poznan (POL). Amsterdam H&BC (NED) also recorded a 4-2 victory to set up an all-Dutch Quarter Final clash against Rotterdam, while KHC Leuven (BEL) managed to find a way past the resilient Three Rock Rovers (IRE) to guarantee a meeting with Reading HC. You can find brief reports of the matches below, and extended reports on the Euro Hockey League website - www.ehlhockey.tv.
Match 5: RC Polo Barcelona 0-1 Reading HC
Reading HC proved all of their doubters wrong by defeating the highly-rated RC de Polo de Barcelona 1-0 to take their place in the last eight of the Euro Hockey League. Great Britain forward Jonty Clarke scored the only goal of the game with a penalty stroke, but it was the goalkeeping heroics of Nick Brothers that was the vital factor in Reading's victory. Brothers, who has played international hockey for England, produced a number of world class saves to deny their illustrious opponents, helping his side to a famous victory.
Winner will play: KHC Leuven (BEL) on Monday, 12.00hrs CEST
Match 6: HC Rotterdam 4-2 WKS Grunwald Poznan
Sohail Abbas scored twice to help H.C. Rotterdam secure a 4-2 victory over WKS Grunwald Poznan, ensuring that they will play in the Quarter Finals. The side joined H.C. Bloemendaal in the last eight, despite a late fight-back from the Polish side. H.C. Rotterdam took the lead thanks to an early Jeroen Hertzberger penalty stroke, before Abbas scored two trademark penalty corners and Johrus Gommers added an open play goal. Gruwald scored twice near the end to make the match more interesting, but it was to be Rotterdam's day.
Winner will play: Amsterdam H&BC (NED) on Monday, 14.30hrs
Match 7: Amsterdam H&BC 4-2 Waterloo Ducks
Taeke Taekema scored a first half hat-trick as Amsterdam H&BC came through a tough match against Waterloo Ducks of Belgium. The victory means that the much mentioned potential Quarter Final clash between Dutch giants Amsterdam and Rotterdam is now guaranteed, and will happen on Monday. Amsterdam fell behind to a John John Dohmen corner early in the match, but Taekema scored a brace of penalty corners to give his side a 2-1 lead. Much to the shock of Amsterdam, Dohmen equalised again before Taekema moved his team back into the lead just before half time. A wonderful reverse stick strike from Marco Pruyser in the 40th minute proved to be enough to settle the contest.
Winner will play: H.C. Rotterdam (NED) on Monday, 14.30hrs
Match 8: KHC Leuven 2-1 Three Rock Rovers
In the final match of the day, Belgium's KHC Leuven defeated Three Rock Rovers of Ireland 2-1 to complete the Quarter Final line up. An accurate penalty corner flick from Spaniard Pau Quemada coupled with a terrific open play strike from Fabrice Bourdeaud'hui proved to be enough for victory, setting up a Quarter Final match against Reading HC of England on Sunday. A late goal from Peter Blakeney gave Three Rock Rovers a glimmer of hope, but it was not to be.
Winner will play: Reading HC on Monday, 12.00hrs
Sunday will feature the first two Euro Hockey League Quarter Final matches, with host club UHC Hamburg (GER) taking on Club Egara (ESP) at 12.00 (CEST) with HC Bloemendaal (NED) and East Grinstead (ENG) going head to head at 14.30.
New Arrival!
Away from the pitch, it was announced that the wife of UHC Hamburg coach Martin Schulze gave birth to a baby girl today. With the Euro Hockey League currently taking place at Schultze's home club, it seems that the timing of the new arrival could not have been better. The baby, named Emma, was born the day after Schultze had guided his team into the Quarter Finals with victory over Dusseldorfer HC, and the day before his side face Spain's Club Egara. The Euro Hockey League sends its congratulations to the Schultze family.
For more info, video footage, photos and extended match reports, please visit www.ehlhockey.tv, the official website of the Euro Hockey League.
