Bitter damper: Italy's U20 is tripping itself up

With two wins from two games, Italy's U20 national team had an ideal start to the World Cup in the 1st Division, Group B in Bled, Slovenia. But now the Azzurrini have beaten themselves.

14 December 2023

From: det

For half an hour, Italy played extremely well against Ukraine in the third group match. The Azzurrini were ahead 4-1 and the victory seemed just a formality. But then Giorgio De Bettin's team completely lost control of the game and the Eastern Europeans turned a 1-4 deficit into a 5-4 win after extra time.

For Italy, which dreams of promotion, this is a bitter setback, but nothing is lost yet. Nevertheless, Alan Lobis & Co. are now under a lot of pressure. The Azzurrini already had victory over Ukraine in mind. Alessandro Segafredo (after a rebound from the post in the power play), Alan Lobis (also in the majority), Tommaso Madaschi (fine solo effort) and 16-year-old Josef Prast (he devoured two defenders and scored with his backhand) scored one after half an hour comfortable 4:1 lead for Italy. Although Ukraine reduced the lead to 2:4 in the middle third, Italy seemed to have everything under control.

Suddenly Ukraine is going full steam ahead

It was only in the final section that the Ukrainians really increased the pace and put the young Azzurri in trouble. Mykyta Sydorenko in particular was never to be stopped and made it 3-4 with a penalty (50th), before Serhi Stetsiura equalized 4-4 shortly before the end (56th). The goal was preceded by a bad pass from Italy's top man Tommaso De Luca. It went into overtime and Sydorenko gave the Azzurri the coup de grace with his third goal of the day.

There were many duels between Italy and Ukraine. © IIHF

The Blue Team has a decisive match scheduled for Friday. Then, starting at 19.30:XNUMX p.m., Italy will face Slovenia, who haven't lost a point in their previous three games. The motto for the Azzurri: No losing. Only the first in the group advances.

U20, B World Cup – 3rd matchday

Ukraine – Italy 5:4 aet

Ukraine: Artsatbanov (Malykhin); Dakhnovsky-Shamardin, Volkov-Kosarev, Troshkin-Polonytsky, Trushchenko; Sydorenko-Kryklia-Stetsiura, Shapovalov-Yevtiekhov-Ivashchenko, Pazi-Simchuk-Kovalchuk, Yatsishin-Dubsky-Lysak, Shulha
Coach: Sryubko

Italy: Berti (Ridone); Prast-Larcher, Albis-Tolomelli, Lacedelli-Nitz, Gorgone; Segafredo-De Luca-Lobis, Garau-Egger-Purdeller, Remolato-Gschliesser-Madaschi, Covelli-Zandegiacomo-Manganelli, Girardi
Coach: De Bettin

Gates: 0:1 Alessandro Segafredo (5.33), 1:1 Illia Kryklia (13.15), 1:2 Alan Lobis (20.42), 1:3 Tommaso Madaschi (23.45), 1:4 Josef Prast (25.15), 2:4 Mykyta Sydorenko (31.30), 3:4 Mykyta Sydorenko (49.35), 4:4 Serhi Stetsiura (55.46), 5:4 Mykyta Sydorenko (61.48)