Ukraine 6-3 Slovakia
Ukraine edged out Slovakia 6-3 to claim third place in the LEN European Nations Trophy 2009.
With both teams fatigued, having played on every day of the competition, the first quarter was unsurprisingly tentative.
Neither side were able to capitalise on their attacks and the only efforts came from long range as the shot clock ran out time and again.
So, with the first goalless period of the tournament over, the second quarter opened up a little.
Ukrainian top goalscorer Anastasiya Kotova opened their account in the tenth minute of play. Kotova rose typically high out of the water to fire past the helpless Zuzana Ratveiska.
Kotova’s second of the contest came as Ratveiska, the Slovak goalkeeper, had been sent to the sin-bin and sfter patient build up play from the Ukraine attack.
More exclusions allowed Slovakia a way back into the tie as Ukraine’s Kseniya Kurvicheva and Livbov Netikova were in the exclusion zone. This allowed Miroslava Ziakova the chance to pull one back.
Slovakia were on top at the start of the second half but could only get on the scoresheet once, through Paula Lacikova. They were behind soon after, though, as Kotova completed her hat-trick.
Ukraine, high on confidence in the final period, then put the game beyond the Slovaks. Thanks to Kotova’s fourth and a brace from Olga Shvedova, either side of Lacikova’s second, won them the bronze medal.
After the game, Shvedova said: “It was a very difficult game. I just want to say that we are really happy, I am so proud of my team.”
