Bitter bronze for Lithuania

Lithuania begins the last game with the chance to make history gaining an unexpected promotion to Division Ia but the failed victory in the regular time against Croatia gives Ukraine the first place and the immediate return to upper division

Arriving in Zagreb last week, coach Bernd Haake made clear Lithuania main goal for the championship would have been escaping from relegation, due the absence of 11 players usually in the roster and the lack of a really competitive domestic league. One week after Lithuania plays the last match hunting the gold and an historical promotion after a brilliant campaign included the unexpected victory against favourite Ukraine and an awful performance against Great Britain, today knocked off from gold medal by same Ukraine. The last obstacle is the home team, still battling for a bronze. Captain and experienced Mindaugas Kieras tries to take off the pressure: "This is the level of our team. We worked a lot to improve the defence and strengthen the team. Above all, our young players have a great spirit and feel the unity of our group”

When we began the training camp, I worked with just five players – remember coach Haake – and today we will play for the gold, how strange life is! This is a very important match. We know how to win, and which medal we want to win. We have to play as a team, with discipline and the victory will be ours"

But on the ice, in front of an arena finally decently crowded, with the President of Croatia among the spectators, Lithuanian players feel the pressure, playing a fearful first period, leaving the control of the game to Croatia, not showing the determination and the lucidity with the puck as in the game against Ukraine. So home team calls goalie Pavliukov to several saves and generally keep the pressure on the defensive zone for all the time, finally scoring at 19:11 after a fast penetration of Mike Glumac perfectly finalized with a shot under the bar. A shot by Bosas and an attempt by Gintautas after a mess by Croatian defence proved the second period will be more battled. After a power play not well played, Croatia suffers the pressure: at 28 Rosandic deflects with a shoulder a dangerous shot by Bosas. The siege is broken by a fast counterattack of Mike Glumac, stopped by Pavliukov at minute 30. At 35 Verenis can’t net a rebound on a Cizas shot. At 38 Alisauskas, in front of the net opts for a complicate pass instead of shooting, maybe another sign of an excessive pressure. After 2 minutes in the last period Borna Rendulic shows his skills skating towards Pavliukov without opposition missing just the last touch to net a fantastic goal. The key moment of the game comes at 48, when Lithuania played for one minute with a two men advantage without scoring, suffering a counterattack by Jacmenjak resulting in a 10 minutes penalty for defence leader Arturas Katulis: while the arena impatiently waiting for the second goal and Croatia misses good chances, Lithuania strikes: a puck lost in the defence is well played by Bosas for Kumeliauskas, relentless in beating Rosandic. A single goal separates Lithuania from the gold but the Baltic fairy tale does not have a happy ending. With the draw at the end of regular time it’s Ukraine to celebrate the promotion to Division I and Lithuania match the bronze of last year.

Regular time is over, Ukrainian players party on stands

While Ukrainian players and fans celebrate in the stands, the overtime is played with a different intensity: Macaulay  fires on Pavliukov the puck of victory, both captains Kieras and Jackmenjak received a major penalty after an old-hockey-style brawl, also Lithuania has the chance to win with Cetvertak stopped by Rosandic until unavoidable shoot-outs where Croatia prevails scoring decisive goal with Ivan Jankovic

Ukrainian players celebrating the gold

Lithuania celebrates a bitter bronze

MVP: Vytautas Jagelavicius – Vilim Rosandic

Lithuania Best Player of the Tournament: Nerijus Alisauskas

Croatia Best Player of the Tournament: Borna Rendulic

Best Players selected by the Directorate:

Best Goalkeeper: Eduard Zakharchenko (UKR)

Best Defender : Ben O’Connor (GBR)

Best Forward: Borna Rendulic (LTU)

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