Euro Hockey League KO16: Star-studded HC Bloemendaal to meet Amsterdam H&BC in semifinal

Star-studded Dutch club side HC Bloemendaal turned on the style, easing past English club Beeston HC 4-1 to storm into the semifinals of the Euro Hockey League’s KO16 event in a quarterfinal match played at the Wagener Stadium Amsterdam.

HC Bloemendaal, boasting of star players like celebrated Dutch striker Teun de Nooijer, world’s best goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann, talented international fullback Wouter Jolie, midfielder Tim Jenniskens besides the Australian trio of defenders – Chris Ciriello, Mathew Swann and Fergus Kavanagh, proved their superiority against an English club side, which had to finish second best against an extremely proficient side.

HC Bloemendaal, who also wear the famous orange shirts like the Netherlands national hockey and football teams, rattled the Beeston’s cage first through Pelle Vos.

Drag-flicker Chris Ciriello, who turned out for the Jaypee Punjab Warriors in the inaugural Hockey India League, was then in the thick of things, scoring twice to put the issue beyond Beeston.

Wouter Jolie, who played for Uttar Pradesh Wizards in the Hockey India League, hammered the final nail in the Beeston’s coffin to help Bloemendaal post a convincing victory.

There was more good news for the Netherlands’ hockey fans as Amsterdam H&BC became the second Dutch outfit to make it to the last four stage.

Amsterdam H&BC, which has the likes of Dutch international Floris Evers, Billy Bakker and legendary drag-flicker Taeke Taekema, edged out German club side Berliner 3-2 in a needle contest.

Amsterdam H&BC were in for a rude jolt when Robert Marx first sounded the board for Berliner in the third quarter after the first two quarters failed to break the stalemate.

Stung by the opening strike, Amsterdam H&BC regrouped well and restored parity through Mirco Pruyser. Santi Freixa gave home fans plenty to rejoice about when he pulled off a superb goal to put Amsterdam H&BC 2-1 up.

Kevin Lim kept Berliner in the contest, levelling things close to the third quarter.

Mirco Pruyser added his second to the tally in the final quarter to help Amsterdam H&BC scrape through 3-2.

Earlier, German club side Rot-Weiss Köln became the first team to advance to the semifinal with a solitary extra time goal win over Uhlenhorst Mülheim.

Rot-Weiss Köln owe their win to double Olympic Gold medallist Benni Wess, who tapped home a pass from German international Philipp Zeller.

Belgium club side KHC Dragons were the second team to reach the semifinals, drubbing English club side Reading HC 5-1. Maurice Dubois struck twice while Florent van Aubel, Jeffrey Thys and Loick Luypaert found the target for the winners.

HC Bloemendaal would now meet Amsterdam H&BC in the first semifinal, while Rot-Weiss Köln will clash with KHC Dragons in the other semifinal.

The semifinals would be held on May 18 and 19 at a venue, which is yet to decided by the European Hockey Federation.