KO2: Pinoké – Royal Racing Club de Bruxelles

Match report

Royal Racing Club de Bruxelles made it through to the EHL Men’s FINAL4 for the second time as they stunned a raucous Wagener Stadium to outdoor hosts Pinoké.

Tanguy Cosyns grabbed the winner with a rocket drag-flick with 11 minutes to go and they just about held on as Pinoké hit the post in the closing seconds to prevent a shoot-out.

The Amstelveen club hit the front six minutes in when Marlon Landbrug popped up on the left baseline and picked out the top corner with a great flick.

Racing, though, were not unnerved by the loud crowd, enjoying a break in the day’s torrential rain. And they got back on terms when Samuel Malherbe’s dancing run in from the left wing ended with the ball squeezing into the net off a defensive stick.

Malherbe then put his side in front when he followed off the pads of Hidde Brink with a smart rebound. Alex Hendrickx slung in for 2-2 at half-time from a corner, setting up a lively second half.

Racing, though, looked the side more likely to breakthrough with Alexis Cayphas unable to cash in from a big chance before Cosyns got the big corner goal. Hendrickx missed out from a drag of his own late on and then hit the post. Racing go on to face Bloemendaal in the FINAL4.