Italy won the trophy at the “Sardinia Cup” in Cagliari.
On Day 3, the hosts defeated Montenegro after a penalty shootout (9:8) in the decisive match for 1st place.
Australia beat France 11:9 to take 3rd place.
2023 Sardinia Cup, Cagliari, Day 3
Only ten goals were scored in the regular time of the encounter between Montenegro and Italy. The home team’s Nicholas Presciutti broke the deadlock in the 10th minute. The Montenegrins responded with two in the next 90 seconds (Perkovic from a 6 on 6 and Ukropina from a penalty shot) and went in front (2:1). Damonte leveled. Still, Djurdjic gave Montenegro a new advantage 23 seconds before the middle break – 3:2. In the third period, the teams traded the goals. The hosts leveled twice, but Montenegro regained a slim lead on both occasions and had a 5:4 advantage before the final quarter.
In the 29th minute, Italy forced a penalty shot. One of the youngest, Francesco Condemi, took responsibility. He sent the ball into the net to level the score at 5:5. It was the last goal in the 32 minutes, so the match entered into a penalty shootout.
There were many misses in the shootout. Italy’s Di Somma and Renzuto didn’t find the net in the first two rounds of shots. Montenegro had an advantage, but the visitors started missing the net, too. After five rounds, the score was 3:3. In the sixth round, Edoardo Di Somma made up for the miss at the start of the shootout. At the other end of the pool, Ukropina (who netted two goals in the regular time and one in the penalty shootout) failed to score, and Italy recorded a 9:8 victory.
Australia sank France in the middle two quarters. The French started quite well. They led 3:2 and 4:3. However, the Europeans couldn’t find the net between the 9th and the 22nd minute, while the “Sharks” produced an 8:0 run and went to 11:4. The French “woke up” when it was too late. They scored the last five goals in the game but left the pool empty-handed.
Montenegro – Italy 8:9 (0:0, 3:2, 2:2, 0:1, PSO 3:4)
Montenegro: Ukropina 2, Perkovic 1, Popadic 1, Djurdjic 1
Italy: Damonte 2, N.Presciutti 2, Condemi 1.
The scorers in the shootout – Montenegro: Ukropina, Perkovic, Brguljan (Mrsic, Spaic, Ukropina missed). Italy: Di Fulvio, Condemi, Presciutti, Di Somma (Di Somma and Renzuto missed).
France – Australia 9:11 (3:2, 1:5, 1:4, 4:0)
France: Bouet 2, Nardon 2, Bodegas 2, Saudadier 1, Zivkovic 1, Canonne 1.
Australia: Maksimovic 2, Byrnes 2, Edwards 2, Power 1, Mercep 1, Putt 1, Slobodien 1.
Final standings: 1. Italy 8, 2. Montenegro 7, 3. Australia 3, 4. France 0.
Tournament in Malta
Next week, Italy and France will play in a new preparation four-nation tournament. They go to Malta. Besides Italy, France, and Malta, the Netherlands will participate in the tournament scheduled for December 28 – 30.
