Men’s EuroHockey Championship II Qualifier (Helsinki, Finland)
Lithuania won the men’s EuroHockey Championship II qualifier in dramatic fashion as they won a shoot-out against Gibraltar in the final in Helsinki.
The tie went the distance with goalkeeper Nikas Andrašiünas keeping out four efforts to prevail 2-1 after normal time had ended 3-3.
Normal time was equally thrilling with the eventual winners leading twice before being pegged back; they were in front from the seventh minute when Danielus Petkevič scored from a corner.
Povilas Sinkevičius added another with time running out before half-time but Gibraltar stayed within range through Craig Bossano-Anes.
Both would go on to share the top goalscorer award and they also both netted again in the first few minutes of the second half as Lithuania moved into a 3-2 lead.
They held that until Gibraltar captain Julian Lopez summoned an equaliser from a penalty stroke with six minutes to go, sending the tie to a shoot-out.
There, Sinkevičius and Jack Cox traded goals in the first round but the only scorer was Rafal Stankevič in round four as Lithuania celebrated a memorable week in Finland.
Both sides will contest next summer’s EuroHockey Championship II thanks to their performances this week with the remaining five sides eligible to play in Championship III in 2027.
Third place was also decided by a shoot-out with Luxembourg winning the bronze 4-3 in the showdown over Malta; normal time ended 1-1.
Frederic Schmidt’s corner goal was countered by Christ Agius before half-time. In the shoot-out, attackers were mainly on top but Guillaume Mackel managed to keep two out to secure the victory.
The day had opened with Finland winning the fifth place playoff 2-0 against Hungary with both of the goals coming in the second half. Tommi Rantala set them on their way to success and Emil Könönen made sure of the win in the fourth quarter.
Player of the tournament: Tom Degiovanni (Malta)
Goalkeeper of the tournament: Marvin Grixti (Malta)
Top goalscorers: Tom Degiovanni (Malta), Povilas Sinkevičius (Lithuania), Craig Bossano-Anes (Lithuania)
Final ranking
- Lithuania
- Gibraltar
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Finland
- Hungary
- Greece
