Women’s EuroHockey Championship Qualifier II (Helsinki, Finland)
Hungary and Luxembourg took the spoils on Saturday as they earned their place in the top two in the group phase in Helsinki, earning a place in Sunday’s final and crucially qualifying for next year’s EuroHockey Championship II.
Luxembourg were the first side to guarantee their place in the top two, doing so in dramatic style as a 56th minute Maude De Cooman goal sealed the all-important result they needed.
They fought back from an early deficit to get the better of the previously unbeaten Gibraltar 3-1 who had started strongly with team captain Reighann Olivero scoring the opening goal in just the fourth minute.
Luxembourg responded in the second quarter when Louise Van der Looven netted for 1-1 at half-time and they took the lead for the first time through Natalie Paul in the 39th minute.
In the final quarter, Gibraltar sought an equaliser which would put them through but Luxembourg decided the match from a short corner, with De Cooman sealing the deal.
Hungary, meanwhile, propelled themselves to top of the group and confirmed a place next year’s Championship II with a comprehensive 11-0 win over Finland.
Boglárka Győrfi put the Hungarians ahead after a series of corners in the first three minutes and they never left up from there.
In the first quarter, they increased their lead with goals from Rio Esperanza and Luca Gyarmati . In the second quarter, Noémi Den Heijer and Nóra Ilkei added to their lead , and Hungary went into half-time with a 5–0 lead.
Esperanza scored twice more to complete her hat trick while Dora Bárki got in on the act twice.
Sunday sees Finland face Gibraltar for third place while the final pits Hungary against Luxembourg.
Photos: Ville Järvinen
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