Heroic performance by Kraus. Czechia Red U16 to play for gold!

It was exactly the semifinal game every ball hockey fan dreamed of! The Czechoslovak derby for the ticket to the U16 final brought two comebacks. Czechia Red started on a stronger foot thanks to tallies by Kraus and Černý. However, the Slovaks turned the game around within only four minutes as Piška, Ďurčo, and Necpál all added one on the scoreboard. But the best was yet to come, Jan Kraus equalized with just three minutes left, sending the game into overtime. At 51:10, the Home Credit Arena literally erupted in joy as Jan Kraus completed the hat-trick and sent Czechia Red into the finals!

Home Credit Arena

4-3 (OT)

(2:2, 0:1, 1:0 - 1:0)

Czechia Red U16 - Slovakia U16

Penalties

3:2

PPG

1:0

SHG

0:0

Shots on goal

41:17

Goals and assists

6. Kraus (Kučera), 7. Černý (Vaněk), 43. Kraus (Kučera), 47. Kraus – 12. Piška (Ďurčo, Kováčik), 15. Ďurčo (Markuš), 17. Necpál (Markuš, Bonk)

Referees

Jeff Johnstone, Michael Vitello

Official game sheet

Czechia Red U16

Fleischman – Kraus, Puzder, Novák, Šťástka (A), Král, Martínek (C), Mejstřík, Koudela, Kučera, Slezák, Svatoň, Zahálka, Vaněk, Hlaváček, Pospíšil, Žák, Jankůj, Černý, Chán, Drnec.

Slovakia U16

Chmelík – Ad. Alföldy, Ďurčo, Gavron, Piško (A), Šimko, Husák, Kováčik, Al. Alföldy, Urmín, Siakeľ, Necpál, Bonk, Kluch (C), Cabúk, Imrich (A), Chudý, Benko, Bartok, Franko, Markus, Balek, Capák.

COACHES´ REACTIONS

Vít Čapek (CZE): "We had a good start to the match as always in the championship, but we were lulled by being down 2-0. We stopped playing our game. Everyone wanted to score a goal individually, but it doesn't work that way in ball hockey. When we returned to playing as a team, we were able to put pressure on the Slovaks and play in their zone. We created enough chances, and I think we deservedly won."

Róbert Alföldy (SVK): "I would say that we had an early final of the U16 championship because what the players from both teams showcased was pure brilliance. We didn't start the match well, and the strong Czech team took a two-goal lead. However, the boys quickly understood that we needed to step up and play our game. We managed to turn the score around to 3-2. In the end, we didn't quite handle it perfectly, as we conceded a goal just before the end, making it 3-3. The overtime was a back-and-forth battle. Congratulations to the home team. Tomorrow, we will try to bring a medal back to Slovakia."