4th August 2009
EUROHOCKEY NATIONS TROPHY (Men)
DAY 4: Tuesday 4 August 2009
Italy and Belarus share a goal fest
Belarus and Italy will each take a point with them into the relegation pool after they played out an incredible 5-5 draw. After 15 chanceless minutes, one could scarcely have predicted the goalfest that was to ensue. But once Ivan Kisliavich scored from a 17' penalty corner, the floodgates opened irreparably.
Federico Ardito's beautiful, baseline reverse and Massimo Lanzano's first of three set-piece goals of the game swapped the lead around. But Vitali Zyshchyk's simple tap-in on the stroke of half-time left the game level at 2-2.
And Belarus retook the lead in the 38' when Ihar Zyshchyk was the only player to take up a well-played advantage, snapping up a loose ball with a full length dive. Lanzano's stroke put Italy back on terms before Ihar Litouchanka banged in a superb auto-pass and reverse. Reduced to 10 men, Italy managed to the tie the game up for a fourth time from Agustin Nunez' improvised corner. Lanzano dragged home for 5-4 with 17 minutes left. And the Italians seemed to have weathered the storm - even with Michele Cirina spending 10 minutes in the sin-bin but, restored to the full complement, Aliaksandr Hancharou snuck in three minutes from time for 5 -5.
ITA 0-1 BLR 17' Kisialevich PC
ITA 1-1 BLR 22' Ardito FG
ITA 2-1
BLR 29' Lanzana PC
ITA 2-2 BLR 34' Zyshchyk FG
ITA 2-3 BLR 38'
Zyshchyk FG
ITA 3-3 BLR 40' Lanzano PS
ITA 3-4
BLR 41' Litouchanka FG
ITA 4-4 BLR 46' Nunez PC
ITA 5-4 BLR 53' Lanzano PC
ITA 5-5 BLR 68' Hancharou FG
Reporter: Stephen Fidlater
For photos of this match visit www.fidopics.co.uk and click 'Euro Hockey Nations'
| 11.00 | A | Italy | 5 | Belarus | 5 | |
Russia pip Ireland for top spot
Russia top Pool A and advance to the semi-finals of the EuroHockey Nation's Trophy with the only 100% record following their 2-1 win over Ireland. Alexander Korolev's short corner strike three minutes from time proved decisive as the Russians took full advantage of their extra man. Peter Caruth was sin-binned for cynically breaking down a fast Russian breakaway in the 58' and he was eventually made to pay for his indiscretion. There was little to separate the sides in the first period with both sides letting corner chances slip by.
The second half was a more free-flowing affair with Alexey Sergeev twice denied by post-man Johnny Jackson. Eugene Magee broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to go, scrambling home Mitch Darling's square ball. Russia got back on terms from a corner - awarded due to Conor Harte's dissent - via Nikolay's roofed drag-flick before Korolev struck late to seal top spot in the group.
IRE 1-0 RUS 50' Magee FG
IRE 1-1 RUS 55' Yankun PC
IRE 1-2 RUS 67' Korolev PC
Reporter: Stephen Findlater
For photos of this match visit www.fidopics.co.uk and click 'Euro Hockey Nations'
| 13.30 | A | Ireland | 1 | Russia | 2 | |
Wales edge into semi-finals
The Welsh crowd was left with their fingernails gnashed to the bone but ultimately toasted a semi-final place at the North Wales stadium as Rhys Joyce's 63rd minute penalty stroke ensured a 1-1 draw against a gutsy Swiss rear-guard effort. Needing just a point to advance, Wales came up against an inspired Patrick Egloff between Switzerland's posts while Maurice Cottier, Andreas Benz and Thomas Gahwiler blocked, hassled and harried to frustrate the Welsh strike force.
Ryan Gay's first drag-flick was blocked well while Huw Jones' near post deflection was equally well dealt with.
But Switzerland hit the front when Andrin Rickli - a thorn throughout as the high front-man - got on the end of a goal-mouth scramble in the 21' from one of just a handful of Swiss circle penetrations.
Joe Naughalty was sent to the sin-bin soon after as Wales struggled to get any momentum going before the break.
The second half continued the theme of nervous frustration with Rufus McNaught-Barrington's drag saved and Gay's follow-up palmed around the corner by Egloff. Ulli Bergmann and Peter Swainson went to the bin as the game's fractious nature spilled over. Gay thought he had finally scored the crucial leveller but his effort rebounded off the inside of the post, leaving Wales on serious tenterhooks going into the last ten minutes. But nerves were eased at last when Andy Cornick outfoxed Egloff to draw a penalty stroke. Joyce held his nerve to make it 1-1. A couple of edgey moments in defence ensued - even with Switzerland down to nine men - especially from a 70' corner. But Bergmann's drag was cleared to safety by George Harris and a semi-final place was assured.
SUI 1-0 WAL 21' Rickli FG
SUI 1-1 WAL 63' Joyce PS
Reporter: Stephen Findlater
For photos of this match visit www.fidopics.co.uk and click 'Euro Hockey Nations'
| 16.00 | B | Switzerland | 1 | Wales | 1 | |
Scotland let slip 2 goal lead to miss out on semi finals
Drama reigned in the final pool game as the Czech Republic came from 2-0 down to draw with Scotland and take the point they required to advance to the semi-finals.
But that tells only half the story. The Scots though they had a third goal in the 54' when Niall Stott hit a vicious shot from the top of the circle. He celebrated as if he had scored but umpire Requena signalled for a free out, stating the ball had gone wide. The Czechs promptly went the length of the pitch with Jakub Kyndal finishing off the move to level the game at 2-2.
The Czechs duly repelled wave after wave of Scottish attack to secure the precious point they needed. Where they finish in the group, though, remains up in the air as they finish dead-level on points, goal difference, goals scored and goals conceded with Wales.
A penalty stroke competition will decide who takes top spot on Wednesday morning.
The issue could be further complicated, however, pending a Scottish appeal over Stott;s controversial shot.
Earlier in the game, Scotland built up a 2-0 lead via Kenny Bain's superb aerial and Mark Ralph's drag-flick in the first half.
They had plenty of chances to lengthen the lead but were stung ten minutes into the second half when Kyndal got his first of the day.
SCO 1-0
CZE 13' Kenneth FG
SCO 2-0 CZE 32' Ralph PC
SCO 2-1 CZE 46' Kyndl FG
SCO 2-2 CZE 53' Kyndl FG
Reporter: Stephen Findlater
For photos of this match visit www.fidopics.co.uk and click 'Euro Hockey Nations'
| 18.30 | B | Scotland | 2 | Czech Republic | 2 | |
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Note: Match schedule subject to amendment at the discretion of EHF or the Tournament Director.
