PKC/Hagero wins IKF Europa Cup 2014

PKC/Hagero has won the IKF Europa Cup 2014. The Dutch champion won the cup by defeating K. Boeckenberg K.C. from Belgium with 31-27, in maybe the best Europa Cup-final in history. The Belgians were on their way to a surprising win, but PKC repaired a Belgian four-point-lead and secured their win in the dying minutes.

Boeckenberg had an excellent start: 1-5 after 5 minutes, with three goals out of the hands of Nick Janssens. PKC had to go in the counter-attack, but due to the defensive pressure from the Belgians, the Dutch had a lot of scoring problems in the first 15 minutes. But in the last 10 minutes before halftime, PKC closed a 8-11 gap, and equalized at 12-12. Boeckenberg took the lead again, but PKC replied immediately and took their first lead in the dying seconds of the first half by a penalty (16-15, Johannis Schot).

In the second half, the first goal was made by PKC, but Boeckenberg refused to capitulate. PKC always was in the lead, but Boeckenberg never was down and out, especially by eleven goals out of the hands of Jesse De Bremaeker. And when Davor Duronjic scored 27-26, a Belgian equalizer was near. But PKC replied immediately, with goals from Danny den Dunnen and Johannis Schot (29-26). Boeckenberg scored once again (29-27), but the goal of Laurens Leeuwenhoek (30-27) in the last minute was the decider. Final score: 31-27. A exciting match with two winners: PKC/Hagero and the crowd (over 1,500 people), who have seen a high-quality-final. And a match without a real loser, for K. Boeckenberg K.C. has played as a winning team. Unfortunately for them, it wasn’t enough, but they proved today that the Belgian korfball maybe is on a higher level than ever.