FINAL8: Mannheimer HC – Gantoise HC (Women)

Match report

Gantoise produced a remarkable second half performance to reach the EHL FINAL4 for the second time as they outdid Mannheimer HC 3-0.
In the process, they made a major breakthrough for Belgium as they join Braxgata in the next phase, meaning the country will have two sides in the last four for the first time.
It was a game of contrasting fortunes with Mannheim making all the play in the first half, pinning Gantoise – wearing pink in support in breast cancer charity Think Pink – back in their own 23-metre zone.
The best chances for each side came from penalty corners while Alexi van Remortel was brilliantly denied by Chiara Vischer from another effort in a scoreless first half.
Gantoise found more room to work with in the second half and they took the lead late in Q3 when van Remortel made a great move on halfway to unlock the door. A pass to the baseline was crossed by Emilie Sinia to where Astrid Bonami eventually got the ball free to slot in.
Down the same channel, Alix Gerniers set in motion an attack which led to van Remortel’s angled shot which eluded everyone, making it 2-0.
And the win was complete when Michelle Struijk pounced on a corner rebound in the 58th minute to make the game extra safe to the delight of the large traveling support.