KTHC Rot-Weiss Köln – Royal Orée HC

Match report

A penalty corner double from Loris Grandchamp saw Royal Orée grab a 2-2 draw against Rot-Weiss Köln, sending them through to the EHL FINALS weekend with the German giants bowing out.
In a game of set pieces, they fought back twice from deficits to get the result they needed, advancing courtesy of a better goal difference thanks to their 11-0 win over Slavia Prague.
Rot-Weiss controlled much of the first quarter as the tone was set with Orée defending deep and limiting their rivals to half-chances around the baseline.
Jean Danneberg, meanwhile, had to get low to keep out the first corner of the game from Orée as the intensity increased in the second quarter.
At the far end, Jakob Brilla broke the deadlock with yet another spectacular drag-flick, going the high road to make it 1-0.
Orée fought back in the third quarter, playing a more expansive game and they got their reward from their second corner, laying the ball up for Grandchamp to score his fourth goal of the weekend.
Rot-Weiss were back in front within moments after they dragged a shot onto Charles Masson’s body on the line; Christopher Rühr netted the impending penalty stroke.
But the game was ultimately decided in the 38th minute when Orée successfully called for video for a corner, Grandchamp again finding the route to goal.
After that, it was a matter of guts and determination as Orée dug out the result, surviving a last gasp Rot-Weiss corner chance which squirted just wide of the post with 10 seconds remaining.
It allows the Belgian club to celebrate yet another milestone in their EHL debut season.