Italy took a massive step toward promotion back to the top tier for the first time since 2010 while Greece produced an historic comeback to also make it two wins on Saturday.
The Italians landed big wins over Sweden and, crucially, Ukraine on day two of the Jønk EuroHockey Indoor Championship II-B men.
First, they made it three wins from three with another comfortable victory, this time a 17-1 success against Sweden, Giovanni Faggian the top scorer in this one with five goals.
Ukraine followed them onto nine points with an imposing 8-3 win over Lithuania, breaking their 100% record as six first half goals was the difference.
Vitalii Shevchuck scored twice within a minute and then the Ukranians scored four more in a whirlwind three minute spell for a 6-0 half-time lead.
The second half was tighter with Lithuania outscoring their opponents 3-2 but Shevchuk got another pair to keep them out of range.
Greece picked off a 6-3 win over Norway to give them a chance at a best ever finish in European indoor action. Two goals in the second quarter from Nikolas Dierckx helped create a 3-1 lead and this was extended to 5-2 in the second half by Cedwyn Hochhauser and Elias Diringer.
Norway did cut the gap somewhat with goals from Arunpreet Singh Garcha and Fredrik Helgetveit but Greece had their result.
In the day’s second session, a brilliant first quarter saw Pietro Lago, Alessandro Muzzioli and Valerio Iossa all score for a 3-0 lead against Ukraine. Shevchuk got one back before half-time but another from Muzzioli and one from Gabriel Biocca made it 5-1.
Ukraine fought hard in the closing stages but Italy ended up winning 6-4 in the final reckoning for a three-point overnight lead in the table.
They can win promotion with a draw or better against Lithuania on Sunday morning.
Greece backed up their earlier win with another courtesy of a stunning comeback to beat Sweden 5-4. They trailed 4-1 after 23 minutes but a rousing comeback was put together with Cedwyn Hochhauser scoring a hat trick and Nikloas Dierckx fired in two, the latter of which won it in the 39th minute.
Lithuania then moved up to nine points with Ukraine as they won a 4-2 battle with host side Norway. The first half ended scoreless before the Lithuanian side blew the game open with three goals in as many minutes in Q3, Mantvydas Pocevicius, Arnas Ridlauskas and Rafal Stankević making it 3-0.
Norway replied late on via Sam Rathore and Talha Asif but an Andžej Burkot goal meant confirmed the Lithuanian win.
Ukraine will need a favour from Lithuania and then a big win over Greece to have any chance of gold but the Greeks are also in the mathematical frame for a medal so will battle hard.
Norway and Sweden will contest for fifth and sixth place.
