Slovakia punches the ticket for Milano/Cortina

01 Sep 2024Davide Tuniz»

Home team left no space for Kazakhstan in the decisive game. Austria finished third

Austria - Hungary 4-3so (0-3,1-0,2-0,0-0,1-0)

In their final Olympic qualifying match, with both teams already eliminated, Austria and Hungary faced off on the ice at the Nepela Arena in Bratislava, playing without the pressure of qualification on their shoulders. Austria's starting goalie, David Kickert, and standout player Raphael Herburger, who had impressed against Slovakia, were both absent from the lineup, while Hungary was missing defender Nandor Fejes.

The game started with high energy and entertainment, as Hungary took control early on, dominating the first period and building a three-goal lead. Vilmos Gallo opened the scoring, followed by goals from Kristof Papp and Bence Szabo. Papp's goal highlighted a lapse in concentration by Austrian goaltender Thomas Honeckl, who was subsequently replaced by Florian Vorauer after the first 20 minutes.

The pace slowed in the second period, becoming less fluid due to numerous penalties that disrupted the rhythm of the game. Austria squandered a golden opportunity during a counterattack, with two players breaking away alone in front of the Hungarian goalie but failing to capitalize. However, Austria eventually found their breakthrough at 38:33 with a power-play goal, courtesy of a precise shot from Lukas Haudum.

In the final period, Austria completed a well-deserved comeback. They reduced the deficit with a well-taken goal by Dominic Zwerger and then leveled the score during a frantic final assault. With their goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Austria's persistence paid off as Zwerger scored his second goal of the night, poking the puck into the net amidst a chaotic scramble in front of the Hungarian goal.

The game remained tied after a goalless overtime, leading to a penalty shootout where Austria ultimately prevailed. The victory secured them a third-place finish in the tournament, albeit with some regrets about what might have been. In contrast, Hungary's campaign was disappointing, as they struggled throughout the qualifiers and appeared to be the weakest of the participating teams

Lukas Haudum decisive SO

Lukas Haudum decisive SO

Slovakia - Kazakhstan 3-1 (2-0,1-1,0-0)

The decisive match between the undefeated hosts, Slovakia, and Kazakhstan ended in triumph for the Slovak team in front of a sold-out Nepela Arena, earning Craig Ramsay's men a ticket to the Milan Cortina Olympics. Slovakia, the stronger team throughout the tournament, deserved the victory. While Kazakhstan put up a decent fight, they spent much of the first two periods under intense pressure, largely focused on a strenuous defensive effort to withstand the relentless Slovak attack.

The Kazakh defense held firm for the first five minutes of the opening period, but Slovakia broke through during their first power play. Robert Lantosi capitalized on a puck rebound off the boards from a Marek Hrivik shot, putting Slovakia on the scoreboard. The hosts doubled their lead after 12 minutes when Pavel Regenda found the back of the net. In the second period, Slovakia extended their advantage to 3-0 with a goal from Adam Liska, set up beautifully by Adam Sykora. Despite numerous opportunities to seal the game, Slovakia's finishing was off-target, and Kazakh goaltender Andrei Shutov made several impressive saves to keep his team in the contest.

Kazakhstan managed to keep their slim hopes alive midway through the second period when Nikita Mikhailis scored, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Sensing a possible comeback, the Kazakh team upped their game. In the final period, Slovakia eased off the pressure slightly, focusing on managing their lead rather than extending it. This change in approach gave Kazakhstan the courage to push for a second goal that could have reignited their chances. Despite creating some good opportunities, Kazakhstan couldn't find the net again.

As the final buzzer sounded, Slovakia emerged victorious, securing their place in the Milan Cortina Olympics. The crowd erupted in celebration, marking the end of a memorable game and a successful qualifying campaign. The Slovak fans celebrated their team's qualification long after the game had ended, relishing the prospect of seeing their team compete on the Olympic stage.

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