Zamula’s double, Askarov’s mistakes and eight deletions: how Russia lost to the Czech Republic in the opening match at the MFM

Czech motivation and 17-year-old goalkeeper of the Russian national team

Start at the World Cup of the Russian team was to match with the tournament hosts - the Czechs. This team, albeit infrequently gets to the MFM medals (the last time in 2005), but it is a very unstable team. At home, they intend not to face the dirt and, finally, get to the awards.

And meeting with the Czechs is traditionally difficult for the Russians. So, at the last MFM, Bragin's wards defeated by one margin only - 2: 1. And two years ago, Russia completely lost - 4: 5.

However, in general, if we take the statistics of face-to-face meetings of opponents, a clear advantage is on the side of the domestic squad. In 19 matches, she won 15 confident victories. At the MCH-2000, the teams even crossed in the final, and it was the Czechs who prevailed thanks to Irgl's winning throw in the shootout.

This time, the opponent was also extremely motivated and had a powerful trump card in the form of support for the stands. There were practically no empty seats in the stands, and local hockey fans, without stopping for a second, drove their favorites forward. They longed to see the Czech victory over one of the main favorites of the tournament.

As for the Russian team, on the eve of the match most of the questions arose about the goalkeeper position. It was curious to whom Bragin, Yaroslav Askarov or Amir Miftakhov, would trust the last frontier. As a result, from the first minutes on the ice went 17-year-old Askarov. And the captain's armband was received by Grigory Denisenko.

Horrific start and quick comeback

The Russians showed a serious attitude from the first minutes. Before the game started, one of the leaders of the Czechs, Yakub Lauko, came under the power of Dmitry Voronkov and received a leg injury. The attacker failed to continue the meeting. He was carried away from the ice on a stretcher.

The opponent answered this with an abandoned puck, realizing the very first majority. Anton Malyshev got two minutes, and Shimon Kubitschek with a strong throw from the middle distance “asked” Askarov.

Having missed, the Russians pressed the opponent to the goal, but five minutes later they were again forced to get the puck out of the goal. The hosts carried out an exemplary counterattack, and Jan Myszak with an accurate throw into the far corner did not leave the goalkeeper a chance.

After that, the situation of the Russians became very difficult, but they did not give up and quickly corrected the situation. Moreover, both times Bragin's wards competently used the majority, although formally the pucks were already abandoned in equal compositions. First, Yegor Zamula made an accurate throw practically from the blue line. Competently closed the review to the goalkeeper in this situation, active Kirill Marchenko. And then Vasily Podkolzin watched the rebound on someone else's nickle and sent a puck into the net - 2: 2.

Competent game of the hosts in defense and the incontinence of Russians

The second period, like the first, began for the domestic team unsuccessfully. The Russians had the advantage and forced Lukash to work hard, but they unexpectedly missed. Matey Blumel advanced with the puck into someone else's zone and just threw it. Askarov could not save. Fortunately, the response of the Bragin wards was instant. Egor Zamula after transferring a partner did not leave Dostal a chance and scored a double.

Further, both teams could distinguish themselves. Both Russia and the Czech Republic had several dangerous moments in order to come forward. Unfortunately, in the end, the national team was let down by incontinence. Emotions were heating up, and several brawls broke out on ice at once. As a result, Voronkov received two minutes for the goalkeeper's attack. And then Nikita Rtishchev went to the bench. The Czechs earned a double majority and realized it after a few seconds.

Not only that, Malyshev immediately committed a violation of the rules, and the hosts got the opportunity to play five and three more minutes and a half, but they could not increase their advantage.

In the final period, the Russians struggled to recoup, but the opponent acted in defense beyond all praise. The hosts imposed a fight on their opponents at every site and squeezed Russian attacks to the sides. Moreover, at every opportunity, they sought to escape into a counterattack. And in a couple of episodes, the defenders only at the last moment stopped these breakthroughs.

If the matter came to the throws at Bragin's wards, then Dostal, who made 33 saves, worked perfectly at the last line. And closer to the finals, the team again failed with excessive emotionality. Four minutes before the end of the removal, Zamula and Danila Galenyuk earned. And the latter left the site before the end of the meeting.

As a result, Russia was forced to act three and a half minutes. At the cost of incredible efforts, they managed not to miss, but the time for the attack was lost. In the end, the coaching staff removed Askarov from the game, but this did not save. The Russian team started the tournament with an insulting defeat and now has no right to misfire.