In a close duel between Harvestehuder THC and Rot-Weiss Cologne, there is no winner after 60 minutes. In the penalty shootout, the women from Harvestehuder THC then have better nerves and carry off the victory.
HARVESTEHUDER THC – ROT-WEISS KÖLN 3:2 (1:1, 1:1) N.SO
The last quarter-finals of the weekend in the women’s Bundesliga were this Sunday: Harvestehude versus Cologne, third in Season B receives second in Season A. In the regular season, they had already played a close game – with the better end for the Harvestehuder THC, who was able to win 4:3.
It was an evenly matched duel today: both teams approached the goal in the first quarter but were unable to create any significant chances. Only after a little more than twenty minutes played did the guests take the lead: Harvestehude had lost the ball through his own build-up, Cologne-based Pia Maertens then prevailed on the edge of the circle and was able to do so with a shot into the far corner from the inside right Score 1-0 for Rot-Weiss Köln. Maertens was twice successful in the first meeting.
The women of the Harvestehuder THC, now under pressure, increased the pressure and towards the end of the half time more and more constricted the Cologne women in their half. With success, because the hosts were actually able to create another goal opportunity with a penalty corner: Laura Saenger, who had already scored eleven goals from penalty corners before the game and a total of 16 goals this season, was in the shot, as so often this season had to show. And today Saenger was successful again and confidently turned the ball into the left corner (30′, KE).
In the third quarter, the two teams then fought with open visors and created numerous situations in the opponent’s circle of fire, none of which resulted in the desired goal. Cologne failed to take a penalty corner from Rosa Krüger in the hosts’ box. The spectators at the Voßberg were now offered a real quarter-final duel.
Harvestehuder got the chance to take the lead with another penalty corner right at the beginning of the last quarter, but Cologne goalkeeper Julia Sonntag was also able to excel again. It went back and forth as a result, but even the women from Cologne, who were in the lead again towards the end, were unable to successfully convert any of their attacks. So it was 1:1 after 60 minutes, the decision in the shootout had to come.
Sophie Prumbaum was the first shooter for Cologne: she faked the quick shot, turned her back to the goalkeeper and hooked the ball into the club of the racket. A quick turn and Rosa Krüger already seemed defeated, but the Cologne native’s shot hit the post. But Fenja Poppe also failed for the Harvestehuder THC – so he couldn’t use the advantage. And the second shooter for Rot-Weiss Köln, Emma Boermanns, was also unsuccessful, but Annelotte Ziehm for Harvestehuder THC was the first to overcome the goalkeeper and put two shooters in to give Hamburg the lead.
The third shooter was Paula Brux for Cologne, again the Cologne player turned her back to the goalkeeper, but this time the ball wasn’t even dangerous because Brux slipped off the turn and missed the goal clearly. However, Franzisca Hauke also failed for Harvestehude, so the lead was still only a one-goal difference. And Katharina Reuten, as the fourth shooter, offered a different tactic in contrast to the unsuccessful teammates so far. She ran head-on towards Rosa Krüger, made a few small moves and, with the necessary luck, slid the ball past Krüger into the far corner – equalizing before the last round for Rot-Weiss Köln, as the next Harvestehuder THC player couldn’t score.
It was now Rebecca Grote’s turn for Cologne, but her shot on goal was blocked by Krüger with a bat. Maren Kiefer got the chance to win for Harvestehude, who failed with the first attempt, but was able to shoot again at the last second and actually put the ball past Julia Sonntag in the goal – the home win for Harvestehude in the shootout.
After this game, which was exciting and attractive until the end, both teams will face each other again in two weeks (May 28).
Foto: Hockeyliga eV / Lars Kopp
