Cunko brothers score five times as Croatia beat Argentina
The last game of the Day 2 in Division I brought quite one-sided play. Croatia easily beat Argentina 7-1 when their elite line of the Cunko brothers and Tomislav Grozaj scored six out of seven goals.
| Game no. 15 • bD2 • Mon 20/6/2011 • 19:00 • Schedule and results | ||
|---|---|---|
Croatia |
7:1 |  Argentina |
| (2:0, 3:0, 2:1, 0:0) | ||
| Belic (37. Tomljenovic) - Jacmenjak, Sertic Mario, Kopajtic, Srketic, Sertic Marko, Klobucar - Lovrencic, Smerdelj, Piragic, Jakovac, Novak, Cunko T., Grozaj, Cunko M. | Fernandez (25. Marcolongo) - Vadra, Gonzales Leoni, Iannicelli Traczuk, Mariosa, Bustos, Insua Shanly - Irisarri, Chiaravalloti, Vigo Laborda, Rovirosa, Marcolongo D., Marcolongo G., Garcia Sala, Caviglia, Boix Mansilla, Mac Ardile. | |
| Goals and assists: 7. Cunko T. (Grozaj), 8. Cunko M. (Grozaj, Cunko T.), 14. Grozaj T. (Cunko T.), 22. Kopajtic (Smerdelj, Jacmenjak), 24. Cunko M., 28. Cunko T. (Cunko M., Lovrencic), 34. Cunko T. (Grozaj T., Cunko M.) - 30. Irisarri (Insua Shanly, Boix Mansilla) | ||
| Shots: 40:18
(7:5, 17:3, 7:6, 9:4).
Penalties: 5:4.
PP goals: 2:1.
SH goals: 0:0. Refferees: Friday (CAN), Prchal (CZE). Audience: 31. |
||
 Live coverage on onlajny.cz | ||
Game report
Croatians outplayed their opponent since the opening minute. However, their 1st goal scored not earlier than in 7th minute. Tomislav Grozaj left the puck behind for Tomislav Cunko who beat Fernandez. Less than minute later Mario Cunko added another goal.Argentinian goalie played a brilliant game, but many times, he was left alone by his teammates and could not do anything. Argentina had two power plays in the 1st quarter but created almost no chances.
In the 2nd quarter Tomislav Grozaj fired probably the heaviest shot of the game and made it 3-0. Then Sertic and Lovrencic hit the posts. Argentina was mostly under Croatian pressure and allowed two more goals in the 2nd quarter.
Tomislav Cunko scored his 2nd goal of the day and at that moment tied his younger brother Mario. Than a bright moment for Argentina came. Rodrigo Irisarri was at the right time at the right place and rebounded the puck into the net. Few minutes later Tomislav Cunko completed his hat-trick and beat his brother in mini-competition. „It was a good game tonight. Tomorrow we have to beat Hungary, beacause we want to win our group,“ said Tomislav Cunko.
The 4th quarter did not show much of good in-line hockey. Irisarri had three unsuccessfull rebounds and than Croatia almost scored an own goal during their delayed power play but the score remained 7-1. „We did not play a bad game, but made way too many mistakes. The first half was bad but we were improving during the game and had few good moments,“ said Argentinian defenceman Andres Traczuk Iannicelli.
Author: David Schlegel
Game reactions
Robert Villagra (Team Argentina coach):
We played against a very experienced team, while our team is composed out of young players. It was interesting to play against such opponent.
Alan Franjkovic (Team Croatia coach):
It was a very hard game for us. Argentina skated very well and it was very exhausting game for us. Fortunately, we managed to create some scoring chances and score some goals. Tomorrow we play against Hungary, they skate very well and we have to try to surprise them. 
