Lithuanian prank

After Great Britain passed like a steamroller on the ambitions of the Lithuanian, the Baltic looking for a redemption against another tough opponent, holder of a perfect record until now in the tournament. Ukraine needs the last three points to arrive at decisive game against Great Britain with a slight advantage.

Despite some responsibilities in the tumble against British, coach Bernd Haake confirms Artur Paliukov in the net while Ukraine has, as usual, Eduard Zakharchenko. The game is very poised in the first period, with some more scoring chances for Lithuania but without great saves by goalkeepers in the first minutes and a predomination of Ukraine at the end, with a couple of good saves by Pavliukov. In the second period Lithuania has a great start and calls Zakharchenko to two difficult saves, on Alisauskas and Lakaitis, while Ukraine has the best chance at 28, when Zakharov hit the bar, alone in front of Pavliukov. At 34, after a good save by Pavliukov on Mikhnov, Bogdziul has a great chance but fires on Zakharchenko pad. The status quo is finally broken by Ukraine at 36:07 when Georgi Kicha stubbornly recovers a puck on the board serving Yuri Petrangovsky: his first shot is rebounded by Pavliukov but the puck is still available and the forward doesn’t miss the second chance. The reaction of Lithuania is fierce producing two chances before the siren, both with Emilijus Kraskauskas rebounded by Zakharchenko. After 2 minutes in the third period, with Andrei Mikhov in the penalty box, Lithuania deservedly equalizes the game with a beautiful one-timer by Ugnius Cizas on smart pass by Verenis and Bernd Haake squad could double one minute later when the tap in of Krakauskas, after a save on Aivaras Bendzius, misses the net for inches. The karma of the game is now for brave Baltic, doubling the score at with a perfect counterattack leading by Bosas and Bogdziul and brilliantly finished with an angled shot by Donatas Kumeliauskas with no chances for Zakharchenko. Ukraine reacts but Pavliukov cage does not run great risks and the game ends in a triumph for Baltic, able to beat a superior and favourite opponent as they did last year in Eindhoven with Britain. Now the final game between British is Ukraine is more interesting again because the latter now need only a victory to earn a promotion

Lithuanian (and British) fans celebrating the victory

MVP: Ugnius Cizas - Yuri Petrangovsky

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