Late goal gives Italy three points

France beat Canada on the first day but couldn't get any points against Italy on the second. Any points you can get are important with the current World Championship format where the eighth placed team in the group face relegation. Had Italy lost today remaining in the elite division would have been a difficult mission.

Markus Gander picked up a rebound from the French goalie Cristobal Huet just 58 seconds before the end of the game and scored 2-1.

France had taken the lead in the middle of the game on a goal by Laurent Meunier. It took Italy less than two minutes to tie the game again as Giulio Scandella scored on a powerplay at 32:53.

Italian celebration.
Photo: Roman Kucera

Daniel Bellissimo in the Italian net had a great game saving 28 shots.

Bellissimo was only beaten once.
Photo: Roman Kucera

The game-winner Gander is playing his first World Championship, just like ten of his teammates. France has a more experienced team where only Florian Chakiachvili and Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel play at this international level for the first time. Actually, 15 of the French players have played at five World Championships or more.

France plays Slovakia tomorrow. Italy's next game will be played on Tuesday against Denmark.

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