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Slovakia vs Austria

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Slovakia – Austria 3 - 2 (1-1,0-0,2-1)

Both teams needed a win: Slovakia on its way to the final, Austria to uphold his chances for the bronze medal game.

The game was only 85 seconds old, when Slovakia's Robert Maier shocked the home crowd giving his colors the lead assisted by Maros Goga and Marian Zidek. Even with their crowd shocked the Austrian players were it definitively not and responded only another 95 seconds later. Anton Wrann tied the game for Austria, assisted by Kevin Mosser. An intensive game of two equal teams developed. Austria and Slovakia had their scoring chances. But as Lukas Schluderbacher in the Austrian net and Andrej Beliansky in the Slovakian net both plaid an excellent game no further scoring took place in the first period.

In the second period the game got more physical. Both teams needed the win and were ready to fight for it. Both teams got power play opportunities but were not able to score.

In the second minute of the closing period Marek Polerecky released his colors and put Slovakia ahead. The assists were provided by Maier and Tomas Pospisil. Austria tried to come back into the game and created several good scoring opportunities, but with two minutes left on the clock it was Polerecky again assisted by Maier and Pospisil who gave Slovakia a 3 to 1 lead. The home team pulled the goalkeeper and besieged the Slovak goal. And with 49 seconds on the clock, Kevin Essmann who - on a pass from Marco Ungericht - hit the ball into the Slovak net for the 2 to 3. Slovakia safed the one goal advantage over the time and could celebrate a lucky victory over a strong Austria.

With this victory Slovakia stays in the race for the final. Austria will have to play on Saturday morning at 10 am against Germany for the fifth place. A bad reward for their two excellent games from today.

President's note

George Gortsos
ISBHF president

This past weekend I had the honour of becoming the third President of the ISBHF. I believe that as a player and coach I have always strived to play ball hockey in a skilled and team way. Now I have a chance to work with all the great leaders of our sport throughout the World who love the game like we all do. I met some great people in Paris. And I would like to thank the representatives of all our member nations who voted me in on behalf of ball hockey players around the World. This is an honour I will handle with the honesty and hard work that made me a successful player and coach. I want to share the main keys that I will strive to work with my fellow board members to make this game better around the World.
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