Beijing here we come!

Belarus was called to a feat, "the most important game in history" as the country's media called it. He had to beat Slovakia in regular time in Bratislava, in front of a sold out arena, in order to snatch a pass for Beijing 2022.
Too big a feat for coach Woodcroft's ltroop, who have to claim for the surprising defeat in the opening match against Poland, which took away three key points.
Slovakia starts opening the gas and it takes 5 minutes to open the score, taking advantage of a major penalty inflicted on Sergei Sapego for a very bad charge at the board on Juraj Slafkovsky: the puck runs fast between Marek Hrivík and Peter Cehlarik and this last finds the right angle to beat Taylor and make the Nepela Arena cheer explode. A minute later the post resounds, struck by Marek Hrivík and Jurco fails to beat Taylor on the rebound. The game is very tough and the referees have a lot of work in containing the nervousness.

In power play, Belarus becomes dangerous, calling Konrad to a couple of difficult saves, on Prince and Stas. Slovakia suffered opposing play in the second half of the period, making themselves dangerous with a couple of counter-attacks.

After a few seconds of the central period, the Belarusian equalizer comes, with captain Egor Sharangovich managing to push the puck into the goal during a confused action. Slovakia is struggling to recover and Belarus has the best chances until minute 28, when Kristian Pospisil throws away a promising one-on-one on Taylor. The period ends with an opportunity for Adam Ruzicka, blocked by Taylor.
Slovakia continues to have difficulties in exiting their defensive zone. At 48 minutes David Griger remains on the ice involuntarily hit in a tackle, but gets up on his own after a couple of minutes.

It is a complicated match for the hosts who suffer the game of their opponents and seem crushed by tension. Belarus, for their part, must do everything to win and as soon as they remove the goalkeeper they are punished by an empty netgoal from Libor Hudacek. It is over for the willing Belarusians who are undeservedly defeated.

Slovakia flies to Beijing on the wings of enthusiasm and continues the tradition of never missing the Olympic appointment since independence in 1992

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