07.06.2014 | Lukas Peroutka

Croatia comes from behind to claim bronze in Division I

Team Croatia pulled back from two goals down to beat Team Latvia 4:3 and celebrate bronze medals in Division I of this year´s IIHF Inline World Championship. Ivan Jankovic scored two goals, including the game winner four minutes before the end.

Game #6 • Sat 7.6. • 12:00 • Minute-by-minute commentary

Croatia

4:3

Latvia

Quarters: 1:2, 1:0, 1:1, 1:0

Croatia: Tomljenovic – Jacmenjak, Srketic, Milicic, Kopajtic – Tadic, Trstenjak, Siseta, Cunko – Skrapec, Silovic, Novotny, Jankovic – Polasek.

Latvia: Kazanovs – Batraks, Ogorodnikovs, Sancovojs, Fadejevs – Begovs, Konisevs, Zvirbulis, Bullitis – Vasilonoks, Mitrovs, Buss, Cimermanis.

Goals and assists: 11. Janković (Skrapec, Novotny), 24. Cunko (Jacmenjak), 33. Jacmenjak (Kopajtic), 44. Jankovic (Trstenjak, Jacmenjak) – 1. Batraks (Fadejevs, Begovs), 6. Konisevs (Ogorodnikovs, Zvirbulis), 30. Fadejevs (Begovs, Sancovojs)

Shots on goal: 25:17 (5:7, 8:1, 7:2, 5:7).
Penalties: 2:0. PP goals: 0:0. SH goals: 0:0.
Referees: Pering (GBR), Christiansen (CAN).

Photogallery

Show all the pictures»

Game report

The game started in an unexpected fashion. Outsider of the game, Team Latvia, showed some clinical finishing and soon took the lead. First, Arturs Batraks released a wristshot through traffic that beat goalie Tomljenovic on his glove side. Then, Vladislavs Konisevs reacted quicker than two opponents and scored with a rebound.

Yet Croats found a way back into the game. Ivan Jankovic fired home from the slot after 11 minutes and midway through the game, Tomislav Cunko faked a deke and then scored with a shot into the 5-hole area. Latvia took the lead again late in the third period through Alexandrs Fadejevs and his short-range finish, but Igor Jacmenjak levelled just before the break.

In a dramatic finale to the game, Tomljenovic made some good saves to stop Latvian chances and eventually came out victorious when Ivan Jankovic found space in front of the net, directed Trstenjak´s pass into the open net and sealed bronze medals for his team.

Reactions

Marko Sertic (Croatia): It was an extremely balanced game. We were losing three times in this match and were really nervous, but we tied and won by a single goal at the end of the macth. We are satisfied and happy. It wasn´t easy and bronze medals are big success for us! Last time we gained medals was in Sweden 2010.

Romans Glazkovs (Latvia): We played a good game. In the end, it was just waiting for the one mistake. Unfortunately, we did that mistake. Despite that, we are happy with fourth place, because this was our first time at this championship. The tournament here in Pardubice was on a high standard. The organization, team service, everything.

There is no scheduled game.