Holland breathes

Probably the last call for Netherlands to earn first points in the championship against a solid Croatia, able to beat Lithuania and fight tooth and nail with Great Britain. Home side has an awful campaign so far: losses with Lithuania in the open game and bad loss with Korea. Two notable absence, one from each side: veteran Dario Kostovic in Croatia and Nardo Nagtzaam in Netherlands. Croatia needs 12 seconds to open the score with Nathan Perkovich in a speedy personal move. Netherlands reorganize the lines and try to poke goalie Mark Dekanich with Mitch Bruijsten and Nick De Jong. Brekelmans shots over the bar finishing a counter-attack during the first Croatian power play. At 10:20 good chance for Steve Mason, stopped by Dekanich and the defence. The dominance has as consequence the 1-1 goal, scored by Demelinne at 12:28, deflecting a puck recovered and served by Kevin Bruijsten behind the net. Netherlands has another power play at 14:40 when Mislav Blagus hooks Ivy Van den Heuvel. 30 seconds and again Kevin Bruijsten finished in the empty net a skilled choral move. Croatia passed almost all the period defending, but closes the time as opened, scoring: at 19:22 Andrew Murray finalizes a confusing action in front of Martijn Oosterwijk net.

A more confused second period has the first emotion when Oosterwijk has to deflect with the leg a dangerous shot by Perkovich. Murray arrives face to face with the Dutch goalie but shot on him at 31. After a superiority untapped, finally Netherland manages to score right after the end of another power play at 39:36 with Ronald Wurm.

A not perfect save by Dekanich – the goalie touches the puck but can’t stop it – on Maarten Brekelmans shot gives home team the fourth goal at 42:24 closing a game, certainly not spectacular, won by Netherlands mainly due to Croatia mistakes. Croatia pull the goal for the last minutes, resulting just in a series of confusing actions in front of Oosterwijk net before the empty net goal scored by Diederick Hagemeijer with 2 seconds to play

Home side earns two precious points in the challenge to avoid relegation, while Croatia confirms to be an irregular team, able to win or lose against any opponent

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