Both the German men’s regular Bundesliga title and the final playoff spot will be decided on the last matchday with Hamburger Polo Club in pole position.
They did, however, have to settle for a 2-2 draw at home against Mannheimer HC – with a 5-3 shoot-out bonus point – which means they sit two points above Rot-Weiss Köln.
After a goalless first half, Polo took the lead through Kane Russell from a corner in the first half. Tim Seagon equalised for the visitors from the penalty spot in the same minute.
Paul Smith put Hamburg ahead again but Linus Müller responded with a penalty corner to send the game a to a shoot-out where all five Polo shooters (Tim Brand, Justus Weigand, Paul Smith, Tom Craig, Simon Quinders) converting.
Rot-Weiss, meanwhile, kept alive their outside chance of a nicking the top spot – and the first EHL ticket on offer – thanks to a 10-2 win over Gladbacher HTC. They must now hope to beat Uhlenhorst Mülheim and then hope Polo Club also lose against Club an der Alster.
Mannheim’s point keeps them in the last of the playoff places, one ahead of Crefelder HTC; those two sides meet each other on Sunday to decide who extends their season.
