Croatia, Scotland, Portugal and Italy all won through to Friday’s all-important men’s EuroHockey Championship Qualifiers in Rome where they will battle for a place at EuroChamps27.
Twenty-six goals were shared around the four matches with each team giving everything to put themselves in the frame for London’s main event next summer.
In the competition’s opening tie, a trio of penalty corners was enough for Croatia to pick off a memorable 3-2 win over Switzerland and advance to the semi-finals of the competition.
Karlo Perković gave his side an early lead before Jens Flück brought the Swiss back on terms in Q2. Croatia, however, nudged back into the lead before half-time when Josip Krleža’s deflected drag-flick made it’s way home.
And they had extra breathing room when Krleža applied the power once again in Q3 to make it 3-1. Mika Conrad found open space in the circle to crack home a reverse-stick shot as the Swiss came back strong but Croatia closed out the victory to advance.
Scotland showed a clean pair of heels to Türkiye as they picked up a healthy 6-1 win to set up their date with the Croats.
Andrew McConnell nipped in front of the goalkeeper to start the ball rolling; Jamie Golden ripped in a corner and then his brother Cameron popped in a third from close range for 3-0 at half-time.
Mehmet Aydin’s corner rocket reduced the deficit in Q3 but Keir Robb re-established the three-goal cushion with a neat backhand finish. Jamie Green’s slotted effort made it 5-1 and Robb closed out the scoring late on.
A heroic Baltazar Portugal performance and some serious defence saw his namesake Portgual team go through ahead of Czechia in a shoot-out after a 3-3 thriller in normal time.
They led from the outset with Miguel Rodrigues firing home an unstoppable low corner in the second minute. Jonáš Lupač’s back post tap-in brought the Czechs level and Martin Plachý’s classy reverse-stick shot made it 2-1.
Rodrigues produced another blast to make it 2-2 but Czechia were back in front via Jakub Homolka who finished off a tidy move at the back post.
Tiago Ventose, however, had the final say on the scoreboard with a corner rebound and, try as the Czechs might, they could not return to the lead despite hitting the post and having further efforts saved off the line.
In the shoot-out, Portugal prevailed 3-2, mainly thanks to three successive saves while David Franco’s glorious lobbed finish put his side into the next round.
The Italian hosts then provided the fireworks to earn their date with Portugal in the final four with a 6-2 win over Ukraine.
Italian-based Andrii Koshelenko, however, did give the visitors a perfect start when he intercepted a loose clearance in the second minute and weaved his way through the circle to make it 1-0.
Italy replied quickly with Gianluca Frascino levelled from the penalty spot and they went ahead when Franco Harte tipped in after a mazy run provided the opening. Davide Arosio’s right-post rebound from a corner put Italy 3-1 up by half-time.
Koshelenko’s second goal was a bullet shot and had Ukraine right back in the contest but a fortuitous corner saw Italy pull away once more, Frascino’s drag somehow making it over the line.
And they finished with a flourish with Joaquin Puglisi going more direct with his drag and then Davide Giuliani’s impudent lift-and-volley made it 6-2.
Friday’s schedule sees Scotland come up against Croatia at 16.15 before Portugal take on Italy at 18.30 (local times) with the all-important EuroChamps27 spots on the line.
