Slovakia’s KPH Rača moved into the spotlight as the side to catch in Ferrara as the one side left with a perfect record in the men’s EuroHockey Indoor Club Challenge.
It followed two vital wins by a single goal against their nearest rivals, leaving them needing a draw against Triglav Predanovci on Sunday to assure the title.
They started off with a vital 5-4 win over hosts HC Bondeno – the other side starting the day with two wins in Pool A – with Matej Jelačič in inspired form.
Three goals in the second quarter helped build a 5-2 lead which they just about held onto in a feisty closing phase.
That allowed the Slovak side to carry five points through to the second phase where they added another win, this time against Hungary’s Építök. It followed a similar pattern with Rača building a 5-2 lead in the third quarter.
The Hungarian side reduced the gap to one goal but a Jelačič strike with one minute left kept them in the clear, winning 6-5.
It means promotion is already in the pocket for Slovakia with the nation joining them set to be determined with Bondeno play Építök on Sunday.
Bondeno did get on the board in the promotion pool with a 10-4 win over Triglav Predanovci, aided by an Alessandro Muzzioli hat trick.
Építök earlier reached the top four with a 4-3 win over Cardiff & Met while Triglav defeated HT85 5-1.
In the bottom four, Cardiff & Met hold sway after a close-run 2-1 win over Vilnius Žuvedra with David Aspray’s 39th minute stroke earning the result.
Slavia 1921 got their first win of the competition when they defeated Finland’s HT85 7-2.
