Continental Cup Group A: day 3 recap

In a game that carried no implications for the standings, the Bulldogs Liège crushed Irbis-Skate SK Sofia 19-2. Already eliminated from the tournament, Sofia’s inferior technical ability and fatigue from their third consecutive game were apparent from the start. The Belgian team, fully in control, saw forward Bryan Kolodziejczyk score an astounding seven goals, alongside impressive performances from teammates like Bryan Henry, who added four goals and four assists. Sofia’s only highlights came with consolation goals from Tomislav Georgiev and Martin Nakov. Liège opened the floodgates early, with Olaf Schöningh scoring at 3:45. Just minutes later, Bryan Kolodziejczyk netted his first goal at 5:38, followed by another just ten seconds later. Bryan Henry added his own tally at 16:36 before Kolodziejczyk completed a first-period hat-trick at 17:07, bringing the score to 6-0.

The second period saw no respite for Sofia as Bryan Henry scored again just 36 seconds in, assisted by Schöningh and Lucas Boni. Kolodziejczyk notched his fourth goal of the game at 28:37, followed by another just four minutes later, as the Belgians reached double digits. Despite Sofia's best efforts, they were consistently outmatched. A minor respite came when Tomislav Georgiev scored at 30:31, giving Sofia their first goal, but the damage was far beyond repair. Liège’s offensive juggernaut continued in the final period, where Kolodziejczyk added his sixth and seventh goals.

In the third, Liège kept up the pressure, with Mikhail Shabanov and Oscar Delbrassine adding to the total. Sofia’s final goal came at 58:21, with Martin Nakov scoring on a pass from Dayan McMullin, ending the game 19-2.

Liège overwhelmed Irbis Sofia with a staggering 56 shots to Sofia's 15, showcasing their absolute control in both attack and defense. Goalkeepers Troy Passingham and Gregor Steegmans combined for a solid performance, each allowing just one goal, while Sofia’s goalies faced an onslaught, with Teodor Asenov and Dimitar Dimitrov conceding 19 between them.

In summary, this game reflected the vast gulf in skill and preparation between the two teams, with Liège’s commanding victory setting a strong statement in their European campaign, while Sofia had little answer for the relentless Belgian attack.