The Linz team started wide awake after a five-hour bus ride and were able to look forward to a dream start in the first period: Adam Fedor put the Linz team in the lead after 186 seconds, while Brodi Stuart even made it 2-0 for them in the 15th minute Guests.
In the second third, the hosts from Cortina were much stronger and equalized the Linz lead with goals from Faloppa (24th / pp) and Basaraba (33rd). The final third began for the Steel Wings with a minor number, which the Italians were able to use for their first lead through Basaraba (41./pp). The hosts subsequently became stronger, but Benjamin Mosaad managed to equalize 3: 3 (48th). Cortina stayed on the trigger and was able to fix the home win through Alvera (54th) and Adami (59th).
“I found the first third to be very good, the team played with a lot of commitment and energy. In the second period we deviated from our plan and so the Italian team had their chance to take over the game. But we kept fighting and stayed in the game. At the beginning of the last third we had a penalty to kill and needed a push. It was praiseworthy how the team acted and fought back so that we had a real chance of winning. From the point of breakdown, we gave our opponent the lead. In the end we are disappointed that we gave up the points in the closing stages, “said coach Philipp Lukas after the game.
The Steel Wings will continue on Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (6 p.m.) with a home doubles against Asiago and Ritten.
Source: Nachrichten
