Kurbads did it again
For the second consecutive season, Latvian team dominate the Continental Cup group at home flying to Semifinals. SA Akureyri won historical bronze
Last year, on the same ice, Kurbads trashed 8-1
a young unexperienced Donbas in the second round of Continental Cup, sealing a
perfect weekend and flying to semi-finals. A year after the game wasn’t so easy
but the history is repeating: too strong for the young Ukranians this team
composed mainly by experienced veterans as Janis Sprukts, Martins Cipulis or
Jakabs Redlihs, with hundreds of games under their belts in the rinks all over
the world.
In the afternoon, SA Akureyri closed its
outstanding European campaign with a victory 3-2 against Txuri Urdin San
Sebastian, thanks to a decisive third period and a brilliant performance of
player coach Jussi Sipponen and the decisive goal scored by MVP Johann Leifsson.
The small Kurbads arena is packed and noisy for
the decisive game: both teams are with complete roster, with Vitali Lyalka back
in the second line after serving a suspension.
The game begins with both teams very
aggressive, with a confusing hockey and few real opportunities, a shot by
Sarkanis blocked with difficulties by Dyachenko at minute 8 is the first real
chance. Donbas kills a couple of power plays without major risks. Against an
opponent very physical, home team seems having lost the fluently showed in the
previous games. Also in the central period the strategy of Donbas is the same:
leaving the game confusing to prevent the organization of Kurbads. The tactic
needs a lot of energy and obviously the risk of a so physical style are the
penalties. In the first power play of second period finally Kurbads opens the
score: a one-timer of Martins Cipulis, well assisted by Juris Upitis, finds the
cage opened. With Donbas now more offensive, home team can use the
counterattack, doubling the score at 30:04 with Lauris Rancevs, stubbornly netting
a pass from Edgars Homjakovs. The last period has immediately a great save by
Dyachenko on Cipulis. but the period is more controlled by Donbas that produces
the major effort around half of the period, finding the deserved first goal
with a shot while falling with defender Dmitri Ignatenko. At minute 53 Kiryushenkov
loses a puck in the defensive zone but Dyachenko is superb stopping twice the
shot of Zembergs, two minutes after Cipulis is late in deflecting a puck well
served by Upitis The last minutes are a thrilling for Kurbads but Donbas ran
out of strength to really organize a final assault.
AS in the last season the home team easily won
the group with some suffers just tonight and will now fly to Lyon, France, for
the second consecutive attempt to reach the superfinals. Donbas showed more
maturity a year after a bad performance in the competition, the young players
are are growing but the way back to a
great club is still long
Tournament MVP: Edgars Homjakovs
Best Defender: Jussi Sipponen
Best Goalie: Uldis Calpa
Best Forward: Martins Cipulis