Party night in Angers

The closing match of the Continental Cup in Angers is a real final between the hosts and SC Miercurea Ciuc: both teams arrive with a perfect record. The Romanians start the match better, in a noisy but not sold-out arena, teasing the goalkeeper Gracnar, but Angers, pushed by the fans, then takes control of the game and after 3 minutes they have a double superiority that immediately exploit with Jonathan Carbonneau's 1-0 goal, after Adorjan made a great save on a Cameron Brown one-timer. At 8 minutes, same Brown hits the post. 11 minutes into the game, Adorjan blocked a powerful shot from Dusseau after a quick counter attack by Angers.
At three minutes from the siren the best chance of Miercurea Ciuc, with the puck dancing on the goal line without Szilard Rokaly being able to score.

In the middle period the first big chance is for Miercurea Ciuc, but Gracnar is superb in denying the goal to David Stach. The Romanians play much better and have another great chance with Balazs Peter: his deflection is saved by Gracnar. At 27:23 comes the deserved draw with Tihamer Becze who ends a quick attack with a precise shot. Shortly after the referees' review canceled a goal by the Romanians after a confused scrum. In the best moment of Miercurea Ciuc suddenly comes Angers’s second goal, scored by Zack Torquato after a wrong coming out from the Romanian defense.

At four minutes from the siren two great chances, one for each team, with great saves by the goalkeepers: first Gracnar is outstanding on Tamas Reszegh, then his colleague Adorjan in the same way denies the goal to Tommy Giroux. The number 13 redeems himself immediately after, scoring the third goal ffalling on the ice.

At the beginning of the third period the decisive moment: Charbonneau steals a puck and serves Giroux for the fourth goal that freezes the game. Miercurea Ciuc players get nervous and earn 2 penalties for unnecessary fouls.

The match ends with no other emotions amidst the party of the home fans. Angers will certainly be in Cardiff, Miercurea must wait for the result of the last race of the Asiago group

At the post game press conference Angers coach Mario Richer pleased the team: I am very happy for the guys who can celebrate their success tonight, but we still have many goals to achieve this season, the next is the French Cup, which, together with Continental, is one of our goals. A step at a time

Also forward Nicolas Ritz said : "Mission accomplished, we worked well to face this weekend and we are obviously satisfied with the result."

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