The 2009 edition of the Europa Cup opened in Koog aan de Zaan with the German team Adler Rauxel against the Russian champions Orel STU. The Russians proved that the recent rise in the rankings of Russian korfball was deserved as they beat the German team 25-9 with Sergey NIZOVSKIY scoring more than half his team's goals with 13, mostly from medium or long distance.
The second game saw the Portuguese team Club Corfebal Oeiras (CCO) defeat the Hungarians Szentendre 18-14 (H/T 8-5). The penultimate game on the first day saw Boeckenberg from Belgium take on the Czech champions TJ Znojmo MS YMCA. Unfortunately for the Czechs the Belgians proved far too strong, particularly in the first half where they opened out a 15-1 lead by half time. In the second period Boeckenberg continued to pile in the goals and ran out easy 29-6 winners. The only thing to possibly spoil the Belgian's day was a yellow card for Davor DURONJIC which, because he had one from his previous record, means he misses the next match.
Following the opening ceremony, attended by the mayor, hosts Koog Zaandijk took on Trojans (ENG), both teams having won their National Championship last year for the first time. The first quarter of the match was very close with Trojans scoring the first two goals and there was just one goal in it after 16 minutes. However, the Dutch champions gradually took control, leading 11-7 at half time. Their superior shooting, tactics and fitness bore dividends in the second period and they finished comfortable 22-9 winners. Erik DE VRIES and Rick VOORNEVELD top scored for the hosts with 5 each whilst 19 year old Kathryn GOODRIDGE top scored for the English team with 4 goals.
