The Ukrainian youth hockey team defeated Croatia, losing during the meeting, in the fourth round of the 2023 World Cup

Ukrainian youth hockey team won another victory in Division 1B of the 2023 World Championship. This time the team fell victim to the blue-yellows Croatia – 5:2.

Andrei Sryubko’s team did not change the tradition of winning by scoring exactly five goals. This happened this time too. It is noteworthy that this time, as against Estonia in the second round or against Italy in the third, our hockey players were inferior in the score during the game.

The young Ukrainians won the first period thanks to a goal from Nikita Polonitsky. But in the second there was a cold shower – the outsider, who had lost his first two matches at the tournament with a difference of 2:18, suddenly came back and took the lead. By the beginning of the last twenty minutes, Sryubko’s team was losing 1:2.

However, the sensation was not allowed to happen. As in the last round match, Nikita Sidorenko became the hero, scoring two goals. Alexander Shapovalov and Alexey Dakhnovsky scored two more goals. The result was 5:2, a major strong-willed victory for the blue and yellows.

Having won for the fourth time (and the third in regular time), Ukraine U-20 scored 11 points and temporarily led their sextet. The Slovenians are two points behind, but have a game in hand.

On December 17, Sunday, Sryubko’s team will have a decisive battle for first place with the host team – the aforementioned Slovenian national team. Only the group winner, according to the regulations, will receive a promotion in class.

• World Cup 2023 U-20. Bled, Slovenia. Division 1B, 4th round

Ukraine — Croatia — 5:2 (1:0, 0:2, 4:0)

Washers: 1:0 – Polonitsky (Evtekhov, Shapovalov), 06:34. 1:1 – Marinkovic (Bezuk, Gorsic), 24:42. 1:2 – Jurich (Zavrski), 37:10. 2:2 – Sidorenko (shootout, – less), 46:28. 3:2 – Shapovalov, 48:37. 4:2 – Sidorenko (Kryklya, Stetsyura), 49:12. 5:2 – Dakhnovsky (Sidorenko, G. Simchuk – big), 53:09