A boxing match, little spectacle and Azzurri who have to find each other

Coach Mike Keenan still has a lot of work to do before the home World Cup in Bolzano: His Azzurri missed a lot in the first friendly against Slovenia on Thursday and lost significantly after 60 mixed minutes.

08. February 2024

From the Sparkasse Arena

From:
Leo Holzknecht

It was feared before the game that the approximately 700 fans in the Sparkasse Arena would probably not see any fireworks. Slovenia competed without its DEL stars, and all of the Swiss legionnaires around Diego Kostner were missing from the Blue Team. To achieve this, Keenan fielded no fewer than eight dual nationals that evening. However, they couldn't prevent the defeat: Slovenia was the livelier, more consistent team and deservedly won 5-1.

The Azzurri had to struggle with familiar problems against this year's World Cup opponents. Although Alex Trivellato & Co. were compact in defense, little of the forward play went as expected. However, it is also true that the chemistry couldn't have been the best given the motley lines. At least the Keenan team showed a reaction in the final third when they increased the pressure and came close to equalizing several times. Goalie Gasper Kroselj, who was in a good mood, held on to the Slovenian victory.

Michele Marchetti celebrated the interim 1:2. © Valentina Gallina

The scene of the game occurred in the second third when captain Thomas Larkin and Luka Maver let their fists fly and were sent to the shower for it. In general, the game provided a foretaste of the upcoming World Cup duel, as there were always some disagreements. The revenge will take place in Wolkenstein on Friday at 20.30 p.m.

The highlights

Easy game	The first third ripples along, there are almost no chances. Until, yes, until Miha Bericic and Ziga Mehle finish a 2-on-1 situation in a textbook manner.
Played dizzy	Italy played outnumbered and conceded 0-2: a one-two between Bine Masic and Rok Mahuc undermined the defense and goalie Bernard was powerless.
A sign of life	So far, all of the Azzurri's offensive efforts have lacked conviction. Michele Marchetti shows exactly this in front of the opponent's goal and capitalizes on a rebound.
Sabolic puts the lid on it	Daniel Tedesco makes it 2-2 before Robert Sabolic stays ice cold on the other side when he takes a penalty. His shot goes off the post and into the goal.
Now it's clear	Shortly before the end, Zan Jezovsek made it 4:1 with an empty net goal. Anze Kuralt fixed the final score at 5:1 with a margin shot.

Italy – Slovenia 1:5

Italy: Bernard (Vallini); Trivellato-Larkin, Amorosa-Di Tomaso, Spornberger-Insam, Glira-Zanatta; Frigo-Catenacci-Tedesco, Brunner-Mantenuto-Hannoun, Marchetti-Misley-Finoro, Deluca-Mantinger-Frank.
coach: Keenan

Slovenia: Kroselj (Pintaric); Magovac-Masic, Stebih-Cosic, Urukalo-Crnovic, Bohinc; Kuralt-Macuh-Ograjensek, Zajc-Tomazevic-Sabolic, Maver-Simsic-Jezovsek, Mehle-Sitar-Mahkovec, Bericic.
coach: Terglav

Gates: 0:1 Mehle (16.01), 0:2 Macuh (26.47), 1:2 Marchetti (35.41), 1:3 Sabolic (53.55), 1:4 Jezovsek (58.12), 1:5 Kuralt (58.44)

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Schlagwörter: Hockey National teams Italy Slovenia