Alexander Hendrickx’s 10th minute penalty stroke saw Pinoké become the ninth different winner of the Euro Hockey League as they defeated SV Kampong 1-0 at a sold out Wagener Stadium.
They withstood a huge second half onslaught from Kampong but their defensive efficiency and steely resolve proved critical to get the party started in front of their home fans.
Pinoké took the lead in the first quarter when a flowing move was cut short by a foul on Sébastien Dockier by Jip Janssen in the circle. From the resulting stroke, Alexander Hendrickx applied the power to make it 1-0.
They continued to make most of the running and David Harte needed to be at sull stretch to deny Marlon Landbrug’s shot from mid-circle.
The second half saw a full sea-change in the momentum with Kampong camping around the Pinoké circle for long periods. The Amsterdamse Bos side had to dig in and do a lot of defending but they did it without fault, offering few chances to the Utrecht side.
And so it remained with just that single goal between the teams through to the final whistle to give Pinoké their first ever EHL crown.
