The Ukrainian national team defeated the Estonian team and became the winner of the third stage of qualification for the 2026 Olympic Games.
Olympics 2026, Qualification, 3rd Stage: Ukraine - Estonia - 5:3 (3:0, 1:2, 1:1)
Goals: Mazur, 02:29, Pangilov-Yuldashev, 15:59, Lialka, 17:17, Fadeyev, 24:33, Peresunko, 57:40 - Arrak, 23:29, Vasjonkin, 26:41, Viitanen, 55:53
The Ukrainians quickly took the lead when Mazur set up a slapshot from the blue line. "Blue-yellow" scored twice more at the end of the first period. First, Pangilov-Yuldashev made a great shot from the left zone after a pass from Deniskin. And then Lyalka scored on a 1-on-0 counterattack.
At the beginning of the second period, the teams exchanged goals. The Estonians opened the scoring with Arrak's effort, who sent the puck into the top corner from several meters away. In response, Fadeyev quickly broke away from the left side and calmly beat the goalkeeper.
The Baltic team did not give up and organized another goal. This time Vasjonkin finished off Viitanen's pass with a deflection. But then the Ukrainian team stabilized the situation and regained control of the match. However, they couldn't avoid nervous final minutes - Viitanen twisted the defenders and shot the puck into the top corner. But then Estonia got too carried away with the attack and missed Peresunko's breakaway - 5:3 in the end.
Dmytro Khristich's team scored 8 points in the round-robin tournament in Sosnowiec, Poland, and advanced to the final qualification for the 2026 Winter Olympics. In August-September, 12 European teams will compete for 3 spots at the Games.
The Ukrainian team has reached this stage for the first time since the qualification for the 2010 Olympics.
