WC2010Tilburg.com > News > Austria > Close victory for Austria
Datum: 22-04-2010
Auteur: Remco Bambacht
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Austria regain top statusMatthias Trattnig scored the game winning goal in the third period against Ukraine to hand Austria promotion back to the top flight...
Holland beats Serbia in OTThe Netherlands reached their goal by claiming the fourth place in this tournament...
Another bronze medal for JapanJapan secured the bronze medal on the final day of the World Championship Division I Group A...
| gms | pts | w | l | otw | otl | ||
| 1 | Korea | 5 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Romania | 5 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Lithuania | 5 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | Great Britain | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Croatia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 04/04/12 | Great Britain - Croatia | 6 - 0 |
| 04/04/12 | Lithuania - Netherlands | 5 - 3 |
| 06/04/12 | Croatia - Lithuania | 0 - 6 |
| 06/04/12 | Great Britain - Korea | 3 - 4 |
| 06/04/12 | Romania - Netherlands | 10 - 5 |
| ...more rankings & results |
||
Austria had a difficult afternoon against Japan. Austria remained unbeaten in Tilburg after beating the Japanese 3-1. Thomas Koch had two goals for Austria.
Japan is a team on a mission in Tilburg. After winning the bronze medal for a couple of years, the team is aiming higher. After facing the weaker teams Serbia and Holland, Japan had to face favorites Austria. Japan got off to a weak start against Austria. After eight minutes Austria claimed a 2-0 lead by scoring twice on the powerplay. Thomas Koch put Austria ahead after five minutes by putting the puck through the legs of netminder Yutaka Fukufuji.
Three minutes later Koch doubled the lead with his second of the afternoon and his fourth of the tournament. Both goals were assisted by Oliver Setzinger and birthday boy Matthias Trattnig. Japan recovered after the two Austrian goals. Still the team of coach Mark Mahon could not get the first goal before the break.
During the second period Japan and Austria were equally strong. Japan made it very difficult for Austria and got the deserved first goal halfway through the period. Tetsuya Saito beat Reinhard Divis to cut the Austrian lead to a single goal. After Saito's goal, Divis had to make a couple of big saves to keep the lead for his team.
In the third period Austria again took over control. Japan got too many penalties but Austria refused to extend the lead. Four minutes before the end of regulation, Ronald Kaspitz decided the game. Kaspitz beat Fukufuji after a shorthanded breakaway for the Austrian attacker. In the remaining minutes Japan could not come back despite pulling their goalie.
Austrian coach Bill Gilligan paid tribute to Japans effords. 'They played a great game and worked really hard. I think we were a little bit lucky to win this match.' Gilligan might rest his number one goaltender Divis on Saturday against The Netherlands. 'I have not thought about it. I usually make that kind of decission on game day anyways.'
His counterpart Mark Mahon of Team Japan said he was very proud of his team, but believed special situations made the difference today. 'Austria has world class players like Setzinger and Koch and they made the difference on the powerplay, while our powerplay was not good enough. I am very happy to have Yutaka Fukufuji back in our program. He spent years being coached as a NHL-goalie and he made some tremendous saves today.'
Thanks to the victory Austria remains unbeaten just like rivals Ukraine. They are the only two teams left with nine points in three games.
Geplaatst door Remco Bambacht op 22-4-2010
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