Hungary tops Group D after sinking Croatia
Team Hungary enjoyed a strong start to the last Division I group game and then held off a Croatian comeback to occupy first spot in Group D.
| Game no. 23 • bD3 • TUe 21/6/2011 • 19:00 • Schedule and results | ||
|---|---|---|
Croatia |
2:5 |  Hungary |
| (0:1, 0:2, 2:0, 0:2) | ||
| Belic (Tomljenovic) - Jacmenjak, Kopajtic, Lovrencic, Smerdejl - Sertic Marko, Cunko M., Cunko T., Grozaj - Sertic Mario, Skretic, Novak, Piragic - Jakovac, Klobucar | Kiss T. (Balizs) - Lencses, Revak, Kiss A., Rafaj - Orban, Bontovics, Szappanos, Feil - Borbas, Kordisz, Fekecs, Pilcsik - Dancsfalvi | |
| Goals and assists: 26. Cunko M. (Cunko T., Brozaj), 31. Novak - 6. Orban (Kiss A.), 20. Szappanos (Kiss A.), 21. Orban (Szappanos), 38. Borbas (Rafaj, Kiss A.), 48. Borbas (Lencses, Revak) | ||
| Shots: 43:23
(10:8, 10:4, 12:3, 11:8).
Penalties: 5:5.
PP goals: 1:2.
SH goals: 0:0. Refferees: Kralj (SLO), Kuloaro (FIN). |
||
 Live coverage on onlajny.cz | ||
Game report
In a clash for top spot in Group D, Hungary started strongly. After just 5 minutes, Attila Orban rounded the goal, caught keeper Belic by surprise and scored to give Hungarians a better starting position.
Early in the second quarter, Rafaj though he achieved another Hungarian goal, but his effort was ruled out by referees due to a high stick. Both sides were picking up a lot of penalties at that time of a game, but it was Hungary who capitalized thanks to a power play goal by David Szappanos. Just 18 seconds later, Attila Orban added third goal and increased his team´s lead to 3-0.
Shortly after half-time, things changed dramatically. Mario Cunko converted a power play for a first Croatian goal of the game from a pass by his brother Tomislav. Five minutes later, a shot by Mario Novak triggered a lot of controversy as it was not clear whether it crossed the line or not. After a debate, referees allowed the goal and Croats were back within a shout.
However, it was Hungary who opened the last quarter strongly and after Gergely Borbas broke the Croatian pressure and scored to make it 4-2, Hungary had a breathing space. “We had a lot of clear-cut chances, but we couldn´t convert them. Then the game slipped out of our reach,” said Marko Sertic of Team Croatia.
Croatia pushed for a chance to equalize late on, but second goal by Borbas into the empty net stamped the top Group D spot for Hungary. “We played a good game defensively and were able to convert some powerplays. That´s why we won,” said a two-goal scorer Borbas.
Author: Lukas Peroutka
Game reactions
Tamas Dobos (Team Hungary coach): I am very happy. The players did a great job and I hope they will continue like this. A disciplined defense was a big part of our success. We are not as good skaters as Croats, but we beat them with our defense. There is a free day tomorrow, so we bought our players a beer. Only one!
Alan Franjkovic (Team Croatia coach): I am very happy with the way we played, but the Hungarian goalkeeper was fantastic. We had a lot of chances, but he caught almost everything. We have to regroup tomorrow and focus on the quarterfinals, because that game is going to be decisive. I believe we can win.
