The men of Almeerse Hockey Club just failed to reach the final of the Dutch Indoor Hockey Championship on Saturday afternoon. During the semi-finals against Amsterdam it became 3-3, after which Almerders eventually had to lose in a penalty shootout series.

Al Miri advanced in the final no less than three times. Jupp Troost scored to make it 1-0 for Almerdeers early on, but Amsterdam captain Boris Burckhardt put the equalizer on the board just a minute later. Almere took the lead again before breaking through by Isaac Josefzon. This 2-1 also meant the half-time score at the Zuiderpark sports complex in The Hague.

After the break, Amsterdam returned to the same level with a penalty kick that Boris Burckhardt used: 2-2. Nicki Leijs then put Almeerders ahead for the third time via a penalty kick that was used. It seemed that his goal was to win, but just before that Max Swering managed to make it 3-3 to the team from Amsterdam, so the penalty shootout had to decide who was allowed to play in the final.

The decisive moment in the penalty shoot-out series was a cruel foul by Amsterdam goalkeeper Tavorn on Niki Laijs, who prevented Almir from scoring but conceded a penalty. Then Joep Troost missed that penalty kick. Almerdors was then unable to undo that build-up.