Eight times in a row, Verva failed to win by three points, collected at least seven points, but it started to rain over her. There was a threat that, just like a year ago, he would remain without the playoffs. What’s worse, a scarecrow in the form of a barrage was already coming up behind. “And no one wants to have a tie entered in the hockey register,” Abdul agreed.
The North Bohemians took over at the right time. In the fight for an imaginary six points, they defeated a direct competitor. They caught up with Bruslarský klub on points, and even beat him by a score in 11th place. “This win will hopefully give us a kick,” hopes the 27-year-old winger of the first formation.
It was Abdul who broke the key match. The home team could not react to the goal from the 12th minute. And it is all the more bitter for them that the decisive goal was quite questionable. A hidden throw from the blue line unexpectedly went into the net. The goalkeeper Novotný did not see anything, because the striker Matúš Sukeľ was standing in the goal area and the home team took the coach’s challenge. But unsuccessfully.
“The referee told me that our player (Maris Bičevskis, editor’s note) pushed the opponent into the goal area.” But I think that he rather bounced off our player, moreover, he stood there for a long time,” claimed Boleslav coach Jiří Kalous. “It could have been judged differently, but the decision is a matter for the arbitrator,” he added.
Even Abdul, who won for the third time in a row, was not sure. “I thought that they would not recognize the goal. I heard voices from the substitution that it was a very borderline situation,” he described. But thanks to the fact that the referee pointed to the center circle, he could only praise the shielding teammate. “Half of the goal belongs to Matúš, I just threw the puck at the goal,” he continued.
In the rest of the match, Verva threatened from breaks, but otherwise mostly defended. “We weren’t exactly better. An even match, we had more luck, but we went against it. And the goalkeeper kept us,” Abdul praised goalkeeper Matej Tomek, who made 38 saves.
Thanks to a three-point win, unusual for them, the North Bohemians leapfrogged the last Kladno to five points and the thirteenth Motor to four. “We have to calm the emotions. There are still nine points to play. But if we manage Pilsen on Sunday, the situation will definitely be happier,” said the native of Vsetín.
Boleslav is in the same situation, in addition, it maintained a better mutual match by the score, but it will go into the final three fights in a worse mood. She fell for the seventh time out of the last eight duels. “We lost the match. We had a lot of chances, shots, power-plays, but we have been struggling in the end all season. This is no longer a coincidence. But we still have everything in our hands,” commanded Tomáš Šmerha, the author of the only home hit.
He made his mark only for the second time in the season, he had been waiting for a goal since the opening round. In the meantime, he also played twelve matches for the first league Slavia. “It’s a tough season. Also for the psyche. But Slavia helped me and now after my return I try to help Boleslav as much as possible,” added the 24-year-old forward.
