Champagne is for Korea

Sport is great for the emotion and the dramas can stage: today in Eindhoven the fans on the stands of Ice Center have witnessed one. Great Britain at the end of a great campaign only need a point against eliminated Lithuania to celebrate the promotion to Division One Group A after two seasons for the joy of hundreds of fans who peacefully invaded Eindhoven to accompany the journey of Peter Russell’s players. After the penalty shot brilliantly converted by Ben O’Connor against Korea, few would have bet on a different ending than a party with Union Jack flags waving. But the last game, supposedly a parade against a positive Lithuania, turns in a nightmare. After the Korean victory earlier today, probably the pressure crushed the Russell’s boys. Lithuania plays without nothing to lose and it’s dangerous after 5 minutes with Cizas and at 8 with Pliskauskas, but Bowns keeps alert. Great Britain opens the score at 14:08 with Mark Garside on Mark Thomas assist, with no chances for Armalis. For the rest of period Lithuania has more puck possession but without many chances to shoot.

A great deflection by Armalis on O’Connor and a save on Jonathan Philipps by Lithuanian goalie are the best British chance produced in two consecutive power play opening the second period, Lithuania answers with a post hit by Baltrukonis after an insistent action. Very nice the 1-1 goal scored by Nomanovas at 29:55, mainly credited to Edgar Rybakov, skilled in taking the rebounds on his first shot and serving the teammate. Farmer and Lachowitz try immediately to carry forward the team but Armalis is reactive in both cases. After a chance for Pliskauskas rebounded by Bowns, Lithuania has a double power play for about a minute and, despite a not perfect circulation of the puck, scored the second goal with a blast shot by Nerijus Aliskauskas. Korea is in Division One when teams are back in the rest-room after 40 minutes. Great Britain needs all the talent of its player to straighten the situation, exactly a masterpiece of Russell Cowley, the Coventry Blaze player finds the opposite angle with a shots some inches after the blue line at 45:23. Lithuania takes two naïve penalties giving the British the chance to take the lead but Armalis is great in saving on O’Connor, Richardson and Farmer. Baltic players are tired and no longer have the lucidity and the strength to counteract as in the first periods as well demonstrated during the power play at 50, played very confusing. Despite a physical condition in declining, incredibly Lithuania finds the third goal with a missile from the blue on power play by captain Kieras, deflected by Gintautas with no chances for Bowns.

Lithuania celebrating the decisive goal scored by Gintautas

British goalie is superb on Nomanovas – the player on the momentum smashed on boards and has to go off ice – and on Aliskauskas from the distance, deflecting with the arm. Great Britain has a present from the referee who gives a major penalty to Kumeliauskas for head-butting, forcing Lithuania to play last 4 minutes with a man less. Armalis is brave in stealing the puck from Peacock stick and in closing the door before the British tentative. The last seconds are interminable and at the final siren the joy of players explodes as if Lithuania as if had won the Olympic title. On the stands, along with Lithuanian fans, celebrate also Korea, back in Division One after one year, while Great Britain and the fans fall in a drama for an incredible sport suicide

MVP: Nerijus Alisauskas – Jonathan Weaver

Lithuania celebrates.....

.....with a special fan!