U20 World Cup: Defensive shield cracked, final slipped away

The opening quarter was eventful: we started with an imposing 2-0 lead, Csongor Lugosi scored a penalty shot, then Oliver Leinweber scored a sensational field goal - in between that, we managed to defend a disadvantage. Then a long-range shot went in, but we responded instantly, Martin Toth with a magical spin shot.

Their left-hander, Liechty, converted their penalty shot, but on the other end, Toth scored a five-meter shot, followed by Leinweber with a goal, and after a good defensive play, Adam Peocz appeared in an unlikely position, as a left-handed near the left post - the Americans couldn't keep up as he finished from close range. Considering it was only 2:43 into the match, the American coach hit the timeout button, and it worked: after 5-2, they made a comeback before the end of the first quarter - scoring from a penalty and a center shot, while we failed to create significant scoring chances (5-4).

The second quarter started better: a great steal in center resulted in Leinweber scoring from five meters, which was followed by a goal from Botond Balogh. From the next attack, the ball slipped from Vince Varga's hand at first, but he recovered and scored. Moreover, we blocked Dodd in a disadvantage situation, Lugosi earned another penalty in center, and Leinweber converted it again - we were ahead by 8-4 already.

Unfortunately, we couldn't avoid the next disadvantage, but Zsombor Porge also waved to the crowd with a goal - the match had a quite festive feel at that point. Not for long - a few mistakes in attack, and the previously tight defensive structure was slightly behind every time, David Szitas also failed to reach the balls - later, they were trailing by one goal at 9-8, while David had 9/1 saves. Luckily, Lugosi remained unstoppable for them, again scored from five meters, which Benedek tapped in smoothly, and we were up by two again, two minutes before the halftime. However, David improved his game, first he saved a center shot, then he reached for a defensive play. However, a long shot slipped through his hand just before the buzzer - it was unnecessary because their attack was just about to end, so we continued with a minimal lead (10-9).

It was certain that we needed to bring back the earlier defensive play, because they scored five times this way against us (even though they did it from 10 attempts) - however, the second half started with Gergo Szabo in goal.

In their first power play, he couldn't help as Castillo finished from the wall (who had scored three times in the quarterfinal against Serbia), so we started from scratch at 10-10. Or rather, at a disadvantage, Dodd hit the top corner from a free throw. Our center plays became inaccurate by then, and they were passing us by without the ball - fortunately, a referee error gave them a penalty shot as well. Finally, Vince Varga scored a great goal from the right side in advantage (our third power play of the match...), leveling the score at 11-11 halfway through the quarter. They briefly took the lead again with a doubtful goal, but Leinweber responded with a post shot from the outside. Unfortunately, Vince attempted to finish a penalty from the wrong side, despite having multiple options inside, the block arrived in time. We managed with two good defenses, then Leinweber gained a half-speed advantage, which was enough for him to score from the bottom right corner - we were leading again at 1:54. With wild energies and a miraculous save by Szabo, we nullified the next disadvantage, and at the end of the quarter, one more, Szabo had another extraordinary save, we maintained a one-goal difference - but there were still eight very long minutes left.

After a good steal by Benedek, unfortunately, he hit the post with our first man-up opportunity, and Dodd scored a goal with a classy move - instead of holding the lead at 13-13. Then, they squeezed in a goal from a corner again - they were really on point, it must be admitted. We ran into counter-attacks, then they legally rejected Lugosi's pass at the center - every little detail could be crucial here. Or could decide the match.

And this time, we didn't come out well from the critical moments. Because Mills caught Lugosi's half-chance, and they returned from a goal down - Dodd was ruthless, they were up by two at 13-15, marking a 0-3 run in the quarter; they scored from two of our major misses, which is unacceptable in a semifinal.

A timeout was called, but even Leinweber couldn't find a solution - Mills intercepted a relatively weak pass from him, Ohl's bounce shot, however, was perfect unfortunately; this was their fourth straight goal. At 3:15, Leinweber gave us some hope from a power play, then the Italian referee called a counter-attack in their favor. In response, Oliver turned a free throw into a goal (his 7th goal...), making it 15-16 - and there were still 2:38 left. But the zone defense failed to stop the next attack, but then Brinkema found the top corner accurately - as the saying goes, it killed our momentum. Vince's next shot hit the block and landed at the bottom of the crossbar, they got a penalty at 1:24 - in the end, it was the best scenario for them, as they converted it to a corner, so with 0:48 left, we could only ask for time-out, and at 15-17, it seemed quite hopeless. Double or nothing, seven against six in the field players - Marci Zeman tried, but couldn't slip the ball under the goalkeeper's arm, and Dodd scored into the empty net.

Vince wiped one from the outside, nevertheless, this is how it happened that we collapsed defensively in the last quarter, or the 3-6 closing part and the 18 goals conceded showed clearly that what didn't work today was what had worked before: our defense. The 16/6 deficit could have kept us in the game, but the 9 action goals couldn't be balanced out. We will never know how different it would have been if one of the team's most agile and dynamic players, Andras Toth, was as efficient in bouncing and blocking at the back as he had been before (especially since he was studying abroad, knew them well) - he watched the events from the stands with a minor concussion, after being headbutted by the Italians unpunished in the quarterfinal...

Either way, the bronze medal match remains, against the Croats who also succumbed in the final quarter against the Spaniards, in Zagreb - so, it doesn't promise to be any easier.

U20 World Cup, Zagreb

Semifinal

Hungary - United States 16-18 (5-4, 5-5, 3-3, 3-6)

Our goals: Leinweber 7, Varga V. 3, Lugosi, Peocz, Toth M., Benedek, Porge, Balogh B.

In the other semifinal:

Croatia - Spain 11-13