Both gold medal matches in Gibraltar went to shoot-outs with Hungary’s Soroksári-Olcote and Gibraltar hosts Eagles taking top spot and promotion from the EuroHockey Club Challenge II Men’s title.
They edged out Qormi Daikin and HC Luxembourg, respectively, after normal time had ended 1-1 on a dramatic final day. Earlier, there were wins for Roslagens IF from Sweden and Šiauliai Ginstrektė-Akademija from Lithuania.
To see the tables, results and fixtures from the event, click here
Gold Medal match: Qormi Daikin HC v Soroksári – Olcote HC 1-1 (3/4 S/O)
In a dramatic first gold medal game, Soroksári-Olcote HC (pictured above) edged out Qormi Daikin HC with a 4-3 victory in a shootout after a 1-1 draw. The first half saw a strong defensive display from both teams, with Soroksári taking the lead in the 19th minute through András Hortobágyi. Qormi equalised in the third quarter with a goal from Steve Tanti, setting the stage for a tense finish.
Neither team managed to break the deadlock in regular time, leading to a shootout. Soroksári held their nerve, converting four of their attempts to Qormi’s three, securing the win with Sebastian Léber getting the decisive score.
This victory crowns Soroksári-Olcote HC as one of the tournament champions, while Qormi Daikin HC finished third, showcasing a valiant effort throughout the competition.
Gold Medal match: Eagles HC v HC Luxembourg 1 – 1 (3 – 1 SO)
In a gripping final match of the tournament, Eagles HC emerged victorious over HC Luxembourg with the second shootout competition after another 1-1 draw and shoot-out success.
HC Luxembourg took an early lead in the second minute with a penalty corner goal by Laurent Neve. Eagles HC responded in the second quarter with a penalty corner goal from Julian Lopez, levelling the score.
Despite numerous attempts, neither team could break the deadlock in regular time, leading to a shootout. Eagles HC held their nerve, scoring three goals to HC Luxembourg’s one, while Joseph Borg kept out the first three efforts. It set the base for Thomas Silva to win and secure a third successive European gold for Eagles.
Game 13 Šiauliai Ginstrektė-Akademija v Floriana Young Stars HC 8-1
In the opening match on Sunday, Šiauliai Ginstrektė-Akademija delivered a commanding 8-1 victory over Floriana Young Stars HC, seven of them coming from Povilas Sinkevičius.
Šiauliai opened the scoring early and dominated the first half, leading 5-0 by half-time. Floriana managed to pull one back in the third quarter, but Šiauliai continued their aggressive play, adding three more goals in the second half. Gintra’s relentless offense and strong defense were too much for Floriana Young Stars to handle.
Game 14 Furuset Landhockeyklubb v Roslagens IF 2-4
Roslagens IF finished the tournament on a high with their first win, secured via a 4-2 victory over Furuset Landhockeyklubb. Roslagens started strong, scoring two goals in the first quarter through Lucas Pontén and Leo Törner. They maintained their momentum in the second half, adding two more goals before Furuset managed to respond with two late goals of their own.
Final Ranking:
1= Soroksári – Olcote HC (HUN)
1= Eagles HC (GIB)
3= HC Luxembourg (LUX)
3= Qormi Daikin
5= Roslagens IF (SWE)
5= Šiauliai Ginstrektė-Akademija (LTU)
7= Floriana Young Stars (MLT)
7= Furuset Landhockeyklubb (NOR)