Semi-final match seven

Salzburg advance to the final after a thriller

Salzburg were able to celebrate reaching the final.

(Bild: Kronen Zeitung)

A sold-out Volksgarten with a mega atmosphere was the scene of the seventh and decisive semi-final match between Salzburg and Bolzano on Tuesday evening. In an open game, the Bulls had the better end, winning 3:2 after overtime. For them, the final series against the KAC begins on Friday.

The Ice Bulls got off to a good start in the first period, creating their first chances early on. However, it took a while before the sold-out Tollhaus Volksgarten was allowed to cheer for the first time. It was only a few seconds before the first break that Thaler scored a deserved 1:0 after preparatory work from Baltram and Bourke.

The game became more heated in the middle period, with Bolzano's Halmo causing a negative highlight when he checked Salzburg's Genoway from behind. The culprit had to leave the game early, Genoway returned after a brief examination. The home side were unable to take advantage of the five-minute spell of superior numbers, which gave the Italians strength - and Digiacinto equalized shortly afterwards. The teams went into the dressing rooms for the second time at 1-1.

No winner in regulation time
In the third period, it was once again the South Tyroleans who were on the attack. After a mistake by Wukovits in the build-up, Frigo slid in to make it 2:1. But the answer came immediately - Bourke scored to make it 2:2. The game increasingly developed into a thriller. And there was to be no winner in regular time. Extra time was needed!

But it didn't take long for Meyer to fire the Bulls into the final. This begins on Friday in Klagenfurt.