Ice Hockey
Mauro Ujetto
This time the miracle does not come. The dream of a new victory wears off just a few minutes from the end, but the honor and pride for the'' great tournament Paralympic blues, are strengthened. All'Italia of sledge hockey remains the confidence to aspire in the future to the real top of the sport of luge. Although after the final for the placement, the Azzurri have to settle for sixth place finish. The Czech Republic won 3-0, but the result is really a liar, because the Blues have seriamene threatened to remove his rivals during the first two periods, only to suffer the three goals in the last 15 'of the game. In any case, for the men of Massimo Da Rin get the best result ever achieved in a Paralympics, which enhances the historic seventh-place finish in 2010.
Friday 14 March 2014 8 minutes reading time
It was not an easy match, that against the Czechs. A team "young", born a few years after the establishment of the Italian movement in luge in 2003, but capable of stably and quickly enter the elite world. The Czech Republic is in fact twice consecutively placed fourth at the World Cup twice in a row and silver at the European Championships. In the computation of the previous with Italy, it was cool to remember the knockout shootout to the Vancouver 2010 Games (in the semi-finals for the fifth spot). But it also reminds one of the most important victories in the history of the blues, which dated back to 2011 in the final of the European Championship. It ended 2-0 and it was a real triumph Italian.
From Canada to Russia, in the splendid setting of the Shayba Arena in Sochi, the two National Paralympic raised the stakes. Coach Massimo Da Rin immediately chooses the goalie owner is Gabriel Araudo, which starts in place of Stillitano. And immediately intuits the extreme tactics of the race, with defenses and goalkeepers blocked protagonists. But Italy is more dangerous with Gianluigi Rosa launched by Florian Planker forcing the Czech goalie Michal Vapenka difficult to save. Araudo emulates the opponent's goalie and it's super. Then comes the pole Habl in the most difficult of the first Rittel, exactly half his.
The blues do not break down, even raise the pressure and Andrea Chiarotti pick up the team and hit the post, drawing the computation with the Czech Republic captain stays with the exultation in his throat after passing the goalkeeper with guile, without But be lucky in the inevitable rebound. The 0-0 of the top 15 'is basically right, but the Blues pull in more leads, even if they are not accurate.
In the second half the men of Da Rin enter the track with the same aggressive look of the first 15 minutes. Italy pressed and after almost 5 'comes the opportunity colossal. Still "Chaz" Chiarotti body shot in front of the goalie intelligent opponent Vapenka. The puck ends up under extreme sledding and stops just inches from the goal line. The captain throws to stress the network without fail, but we do not get to very little, before the defense rejects Czech heavily. Still blue and still an error sill Winkler not realized the assist of a ispiratissimo Chiarotti, which had forced the defense to get out.
The Czechs try to respond, but their actions do not lead to dangerous shots. Indeed, Italians are careful behind and nimble in exploiting the mistakes your opponents. This is the case of the Rose, which launches into a half long flight track, only to see the shot rejected by Vapenka thanks to its massive presence sills. Comes the first power play, due to the interference of Motycka against Corvino. Untapped numerical superiority, the tradeoff comes from there recently.
The closure of the central door in fact the first time penalty for the Blues and will also be the only one). Blame ingenuous prohibited without Andrea Macri, right at the end of time. Because of a high elbow of the attacker in Turin, Italy at the end of it brings with Rittel inferiority that could shift the balance.
So it will be, because playing with the man down soon goes into the net after just Safranek Czech captain 1'34'' after the resumption of play. The 0-1 is not that much demoralized Italy, which flows straight forward. Pink and Winkler build a one-two for the possible tie, but the conclusion is not to be on target. There is also time for the assault groped under the power play (expelled the Czech Berger interference), but again there is no accuracy. He arrived on time the punishment of 0-2 with goals from Geier. With the goalkeeper Araudo left out and the sixth man of motion, Italy eventually overreach and 15 seconds from the end of hostilities comes the heavy 0-3 Geier signed yet, after Chiarotti had the disk of 2-1, but still once the luck and precision were not on his side. It ends with the triumph and celebration of the Czech Republic, which is confirmed in fifth Paralympics. It is difficult to confirm? Probably yes, but Italy has done more and closes the Games of 2014 improved a step at the seventh place in 2010 (which had already been greeted with great joy). But what matters is the fact that the Blues have struggled against anyone. The sixth place is a reward for their courage and their close-knit group.
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