Joaquin Menini’s goal 64 seconds from the final hooter saw HC Rotterdam win the Dutch men’s championship for the second time as they beat AH&BC Amsterdam 5-4 on aggregate.
Played in front of a packed house in Rotterdam, they took a 3-2 advantage into the second leg but that was quickly wiped out when Sam Steins Bisschop’s diving touch sent Amsterdam into the lead.
Thijs van Dam restored Rotterdam’s edge before half-time from a corner rebound created by Olivier Hortensius’s sharp reactions off Ollie Payne’s pads.
But Amsterdam were right back in it when Boris Burkhardt slung home a penalty corner in Q3 and his side initially made most of the moves toward grabbing a winner in the final quarter.
Rotterdam defended well, however, and then took their big chance when it arrived, Menini arriving late in the D to spectacularly deflect the ball into the roof of the net.
It earned a 2-2 scoreline for the day and the overall victory, sparking a mass pitch invasion.
As a bonus, Rotterdam now qualify for the EHL Men’s FINAL8 with Amsterdam going to the FINAL12 next Easter.
