Olympic qualification: Strong Azzurri start with defeat

The opening game of the four-man tournament in Oslo developed into a real crime thriller in which the Italian and French cracks vied for the main role with balanced means. Although France set the tone throughout the entire game, the Blue Team's defense was extremely disciplined and repeatedly launched dangerous counterattacks. When a French attack broke through, goalie Andreas Bernard was usually there. Coach Stefan Mair gave him preference over Frederic Cloutier.

The Kostners stir up France's defense

While the Finnish legionnaire initially held tight at the back in the Italians' squad, the second attack block in particular around Giovanni Morini, Simon Kostner and Diego Kostner repeatedly caused danger. It was the latter who hit the mark for the first time in the 24th minute. In the power play, the Ambrì striker used a pass from Simon Kostner to make it 1-0. However, the Azzurri's lead only lasted two minutes before Florian Chakiachvili scored the instant equalizer. After that, France clearly held the reins, also because Italy couldn't consistently use the few power play situations.

It wasn't until the final third that a duel at eye level developed again. However, since neither team wanted to score the winning goal, the game went into extra time after 60 regular minutes. This was just 27 seconds old when Stephane Da Costa took heart in the 3-on-3 and gave Bernard the loss from a tight angle. The defeat of the Italians was thus sealed.

Mair's troops now go into the second game against hosts Norway with one point on their side. This will take place on Friday at 20 p.m. As a reminder: Only the winner of the four-way tournament is allowed to travel to the Winter Games in South Korea in 2018.

France - Italy 2:1 aet (0:0, 1:1, 0:0, 1:0) France : Huet (Quemener); Chakiachvili, Hecquefeuille, Manavian, Besch, Janil, Beron; Stephan Da Costa, Bellemare, Sascha Treille, Fleury, Lacroix, Da Costa, Yorick Treille, Maeunier, Raux, Perret, Claireaux, Henderson, Lampier, Douay

Italy : Andreas Bernard (Cloutier); Trivellato, Larkin, Stefano Marchetti, Gellert, Zanatta, Hofer, Miglioranzi, Oberdörfer; Insam, Scandella, Anton Bernard, Morini, Diego Kostner, Simon Kostner, Gander, DiCasmirro, Andergassen, Spinel, Traversa, Michele Marchetti

Tore : 0:1 Diego Kostner (23.20), 1:1 Florian Chakiachvili (25.40), 2:1 Stephane Da Costa (60.27)

The further program of the Italians in Oslo:

Friday, September 2nd - 20 p.m Italy - Norway

Sunday, September 4th - 11.30:XNUMX a.m Italy - Kazakhstan

SportNews/Alexander Foppa

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Olympic qualification: Strong Azzurri start with defeat

Participation in the 2018 Olympic Games is a long way off for the Italian national ice hockey team: Despite a convincing performance, the Azzurri lost to France 1-2 after extra time at the start of the qualifying.

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