WC under 18: Czech Republic – Slovakia 2:3. Fall into the derby and it’s over, Mrtka didn’t finish

Czech quarter-final story? A very grim narrative from the start. After only 80 seconds, defender Tomáš Galvas and Radim Mrtka hesitated during the pass and extinguished the fire by slashing at Tobiáš Pitka. A mere harbinger of the fact that the quarterback from Třinec will not have the most successful afternoon. Actually, more like a parallel to a hockey horror movie.

In the opening overtime, Slovakia took the lead thanks to Tobias Tomík’s pinpoint shot. The national under-18 team tried to improve the bad initial impression little by little. Matěj Kubiesa was already close to scoring when Ondřej Kos, after nimbly circling the cage, offered him the puck for a clear chance. The Slovaks still survived.

A technical foul by Slovakian defender Adam Belušek then sent the red and white selection into a power play, and just after its end Adam Titlbach equalized. He stuffed himself into the void in the area in front of the goal, overcame the scalded defense of the opponent with a stop. But the Czech Republic had few such moments. Actually, only one.

Coach David Čermák’s men stepped up their pace, this was especially noticeable when Adam Jech had two chances, but he did not hit the device. Compared to the previous matches, the power play, which was greatly improved, did not leave the Slovaks alone, Pitk’s rare attack was also calmly covered by the goalkeeper Jakub Milota.

However, Mrtka once again disturbed the Czech well-being. In the fight, he hit Tomík between the legs with his knee, after a long examination of the video, the judges handed down a draconian penalty: five minutes plus until the end of the match! There, the dream of the two-tailed lion began to unravel.

The youngsters still defended themselves from the long weakening, the legendary Slovakian forward Miroslav Šatan Sr. on the ice cube just watched his son’s chance in disappointment. However, the chance offered to the eastern neighbors allowed them to catch a second wind, they soon equalized the significant difference in shooting attempts up to that time. Liščinski’s attack did not end with a goal, but Ondrej Maruna’s emphasis did.

The shooter took advantage of the mistakes of Martin Švec from Pardubice, who was unable to clear the puck to safety. In the euphoria of regaining the lead, the Slovakian attackers jumped on each other in such a way that they humorously connected with the bars. An unintentional but true signal that they stick together. They also fought together for Milot’s workplace at the end of the second part, but the masked teenager resisted the pressure with all his might.

It wasn’t until Maruna’s second goal kick in the 43rd minute that he was really stung. The representative of Charlottetown caught another naive pass played by Adam Krále, the immediate finish caught Milota off guard. He had to be really angry with his teammates just a moment later, when Pobežal caught a tragic pass and shot himself towards the Czech goal.

When it seemed that the effort of the 18 team was going in vain, Tomáš Galvas passed the puck from the goalpost to his colleague from the defense, Jakub Fibigr. He aimed powerfully, the goal kick clinking effectively on the bar. Tomáš Poletín soon had a comparison on the stick, but this time the stick played against.

After the non-tactical irritation of the Swedes in the offensive zone, the wind disappeared from the Czech sails. Martin Dendys’ wards managed the final defense, the team from below Tater celebrates progressing to the medal fights. There will be none left for the Czech Republic at the WC.