Italy silences Budapest SportArena

24 Apr 2011 | Davide Tuniz

Awful delusion for Hungary, gold medal and promotion goes to Italy; Korea captures bronze despite Spain's first victory

The last day of the Division I tournament in Budapest opens with an appetizer for the fans before the main course: Korea is hunting for its first historic medal in a World Championship and needs just a point to reach its goal, while Spain desperately needs a regulation time win with at least a five goals margin to stay in Division I: Korea didn't save energy and shots but today Barcelona goalie Anders Alcaine was literally a wall saving 57 shots. While the goalie locks the door, Juan Josè Palacin scores 1-0 Spain in the first period, rebounding a Bastien Ribot shot. In the middle period the Korean pressure comes up despite the loss of Tae An Kwon, sent to the dressing room with a game misconduct penalty for boarding. Spain didn't capitalize on the power play and Won Jung Kim ties game with three minutes remaining. Scoring five goals in 20 minutes is an impossible task for Spain, so Korea takes control of the game but Alcaine is amazing rebouning every puck until 45:23 when Carlos Quevedo finalizes a good move by the Spanish attacking line. After the goal, Spain tries to keep the advantage earning a victory for the honour, but defensive line yields at 52:55: Alcaine isn't perfect on a blue line shot by Hyeok Kim and again Won Jung Kim equalizes game for final 2-2. With Spain relegated and Korea earned the point needed, game is decided in overtime at 64:05: Korea takes a naive penalty for too many men on the ice and Spain captain Salva Barnola can beat Hyun Seung Eum. A bitter victory for Spain, but the Luciano Basile team leaves Division I head-high. Celebrations on the Korean bench for the good campaign and deserved medal.

At 19:30 Sport Arena is completely packed, with a crowd, wearing shirts with Hungarian flag colours (ironically, same colors of Italian flag), ready to celebrate the home team triumph: but as happened in Zagreb during Division II WC, host make bricks without straw: Italy has an amazing start: at 03:24 Mike Souza warns the Hungarian fans: Italy won't be a sacrificial lamb despite forthcoming Easter and Giulio Scandella reinforce the concept twice, at minute 10 and with 30 seconds to the end on a power play, spaced out by the first Hungarian goal, scored on double power play by Balazs Ladanyi. Hungary is shocked but didn't fall down and drawing by fans begins the come back: at 29:57 Ladislav Sikorcin finds the space to beat Daniel Bellissimo and cheer up fans. The Arena explodes at 44:21 when Marton Vas finalizes a counter attack drawing the game. Now the teams play more cautiously, although Italy has the best chance with Trevor Johnson, but Szuper, having replaced Zoltan Hetenyi after 10 minutes in first period, is ready to rebound. At 59:15 comes the decisive episode: defender Andras Horvath takes two minutes for hooking, granting Italy to start overtime on power play. And Azzurri don't waste the capital chance, even if in a dramatic way: until the end of the first minute, defender Armin Helfer's shot went in off the crossbar in the top-right corner. It's a goal? American referee Harry Dumas calls for video review: seconds passed slowly for both team and fans but finally the goal was confirmed for Italian delirium and Hungarian desperation. "It was a hell of a game!", was the comment of star player Giulio Scandella right after the end. For the fourth straight season Italy confirms its status of "elevator team" switching between Elite and Division I. A great disappointment for Hungary after a great campaign and the concrete dream to rejoin the Elite Division after the historic first ever promotion 2008.