Estonia dreams of medals
Another solid performance and a late goal by Riho Embrich gives the second victory for Baltics against an unlucky Romania, on the verge of relegation
The game against Estonia is probably the best
chance for Romania to earn some points avoiding a sudden relegation. After the
first two games played with just three lines, coach Julius Penzes completes the
thin roster with a 4th lines with two U20 players – Robert Timaru
and Andrei Vasile – and two more experienced ones as Robert Ferenc-Csibi and
Catalin Berdila but have to scratch Zsolt Peter, injured. Estonia, with moral
high after the victory against Ukraine is confident to repeat the satisfactory
performance
The first two periods were without many
emotions, except a great chance for
Andrei Tranca at the end of second period, alone in front of the cage,
with attempt blocked by Koitmaa. The two teams are equivalent and the game is
very balanced and not very spectacular.
In the last period at minute 52 Tamas Reszegh
incredibly wastes a capital chance in front of the net trying an unlikely pass
backward instead of shooting. A double penalty called to Estonia gives a great
opportunity to Romania, Koitmaa makes a couple of important saves and captain
Lauri Lahesalu sweeps away from the goal line a puck from Daniel Tranca. On the
opposite side Polc makes two great saves on Rooba and Sibirtsev around minute
55. When the game seems destined to the overtime, closing a persistent attack,
Riho Embrich finds the right angle to beat Polc, giving Estonia the possibility
to fight for the medal, probably sending back to Division II a brave and
unlucky Romania
Daniel Tranca said team can claim for the many
missed opportunities: “ Suffered a goal with less then a minute to play it’s a
tough punch, It was incredible, we missed a lot of chances and this is hockey,
we are really upset”
Riho Embrich scored the decisive goal “Well, I
have to thank Andrei Makrov for the smart pass, it was easy for me to finish
the action. Romania is a good team, this is an important victory for us, but we
prefer to play one game at time ands we will see when we’ll arrive”
MVP: Villem-Henrik Koitmaa – Roberto Gliga