Italy beaten by Ukraine: 1-2

Italy-Ukraine 1-2

The national field hockey team’s adventure at the Euro Ice Hockey Challenge in Budapest opens with a defeat. The Azzurri earned just a point in the 2-1 overtime knockout loss to Ukraine, which came back in the final and then closed out the game thanks to Peresunko. Tomorrow the Mike Keenan-coached ranks will face Slovenia at 6:30 p.m.

Coach Mike Keenan keeps Fadani, Pietroniro, Demetz, Kasslatter, Zanetti, Gellon and Felicetti at rest. Between the posts is Jake Smith. The game struggles to get off the ground, with the Azzurri trying with Di Perna and Miglioranzi, with no luck. The first two powerplay chances are for the Ukrainians, but they come up against good Italian penalty killing. The yellow-blue national team puts the shivers on Smith for the first time with Mazur, author of a nice personal action. Few rings and the result at 0-0 after 20 minutes.

Italy opened with the extra man in the middle period, going close to the lead with Deluca, who failed to capitalize on the rebound granted by Zakharchenko on Trivellato’s shot. Shortly afterwards Brunner came close to scoring his first goal for the Blue, clumsily hitting the inside post with the goal now unguarded. On the other, Ukraine responded with Trakht, who slipped through the mesh of the Italian defense and was stopped by Smith’s intervention. At the end of the fraction, the Azzurri were able to take advantage of a 5-on-3, taking the lead at 37:21: Alex Petan’s puck, directed to Miceli, was deflected into the net by Zakharchenko himself.

After squandering a powerplay at the turn of the second and third halves, a golden opportunity for Peresunko, Ukraine pushes hard in search of an equalizer, even hitting a post with Krivosapkin. Italy tried to raise its center of gravity again, but Zakharchenko was ready on the conclusions, mostly from the blue, of Petan and his teammates. In the end of the match the Ukrainians can count on a double numerical superiority and, at 56:54, they even the score: the Azzurri fail to clear the zone, Lyalka fishes Mikhnov who all alone in front of the goal does not miss. Blue Team trying an onslaught in the last minute, but failing to violate the opposing goalie’s guard again.

It goes to the overtime and, after a golden chance for Miceli, at 63:18 Ukraine closes the accounts: puck from Merezkho to Peresunko, who signs the final 2:1.