A tough task accomplished

Yunost’s perfect record put pressure on Red Bulls Salzburg to overcome SønderjyskE.  The  Danish team was confident they would repeat the good performance of their first game. The game started out brilliantly for the Austrians, who were determined to not underestimate their opponent, while the Danish seemed shy, as in the first period yesterday, continuing to concede power play situations. After surviving three times, goalie Alfie Michaud allows the first puck into the cage at 09:15, when Steve Regier slynessly used the goalie’s pad to deflect the puck from the corner. The Red Bulls didn’t stop and added another brick to the wall of their final victory at 11:08. Ramzi Abid (Austrian MVP) perfectly finalized a power play counter-attack. The Danish side needed to play in equal strength to show some active hockey.  It was a nice choral action that landed Dustin Vanballegooie to score 2-1 at 13:58.



The second period flows quiet; SønderjyskE understands how to face the Austrian attacks, so emotions are rare. Shots from Regier and Abid are deflected by Michaud. Ryan Duncan, less incisive then yesterday, misses a good chance during a SønderjyskE power play, while the Danish team doesn’t capitalize a chance with Steffen Frank, alone in front of Divis’ net. At 35:57, unexpected and quite casual a goal came. Mads Lund shot after a face-off and the puck landed in the Red Bulls cage, passing through the traffic. But fate plays also with the Danish. Two minutes later Ramzi Abid’ s shot is deflected off the post and then into the net by a SønderjyskE skate for the most mocking and cruel punishment for the eager Danish team.

The last period has a similar story board but without intervention from fate. So without goals: a very active Dustin Vanballegooie – elected Danish MVP – tests Divis’ reflex, but the super-save is from Alfie Michaud, on a point blank Regier shot. Michaud was pulled in last two minutes but the Red Bull fort resists and the Austrians will get a chance to defend their trophy tomorrow in the final versus Yunost. Last year in Grenoble was the first game and the decisive one. Coach Zakharov promised not to repeat the same errors; for sure a great match. SønderjyskE will deserve a third place, but the game versus Rouen will be another tough challenge.



Both coaches are satisfied with the performance: Mario Simioni praised his former coach: "I was nervous before the match not for to win or lose game but because I played against the best coach I ever had. I taught my team to play a quick hockey, very aggressive leaving opponent without a breath, but tonight I understand what it means to play fast: definitely we learnt a lesson."

Salzburg coach Pierre Pagè remembers when Simioni was his player some years ago and commented: "Mario won three Danish titles, not as a joke, I’m proud of him; he understood life in Europe for a coach is tough, not fun, not a retirement. We played well tonight but we have to play smart tomorrow, we will battle against a crowd, a strong team and a will of revenge."

 

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