Australia goes down 4-2 to Serbia in opening game of IIHF Worlds

Serbia have defeated Australia in the opening game of the IIHF World Championships in Belgrade overnight, taking a 4-2 victory over the Mighty Roos in a spirited start to the Division 2A Worlds.

Australia jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the first period, thanks to the 'Westside Connection' line of Perth Thunder’s Jordy Kyros, Kieren Webster and debutant Jake Ruck.

Webster intercepted a Serbian breakout pass inside the neutral zone and dished it off to Kyros. Kyros then centred it to Ruck who buried it past Arsenije Rankovic to give Australia the lead and stun the Pionir Ice Hall crowd into silence, less than five minutes into the first frame.

Serbia answered back less than ten minutes later thanks to Marko Dragovic to tie the score 1-1 heading into the first intermission, despite Serbia outshooting Australia 12-5.

Australia again caught Serbia by surprise less than 30 seconds into the second period, thanks to another Thunder recruit in John Kennedy.

The Melbourne Mustangs’ Vadim Virjassov threw a shot on net from the point after exchanging places with Kennedy who had pinched in. The rebound kicked out to Kennedy who buried it high on the glove side past Rankovic, to put Australia up 2-1.

Serbia didn’t take this lying down and answered three minutes later from Mateja Popovic on a slick one-timer in the high slot past debutant Aleksi Toivonen of the Canberra Brave, to make it 2-2.

After both teams traded chances, Mirko Djumic found a way past Toivonen via one-timer with 7:15 to go in the second, edging Serbia ahead 3-2 with no further scoring in the period. Shots finished 20-11 through two periods.

Australia had several chances throughout the period but just couldn’t convert. Serbia broke through again through Djumic, who grabbed his second goal of the game less than 7 minutes to go in the final period to put the hosts up 4-2. Australia had two big penalty kills towards the end of the game including a 5-on-3 but couldn’t muster a response late in the game.

Serbia ran out winners 4-2 and will face Israel in their next game tomorrow morning.

Toivonen was named man of the match for Australia, making 27 saves on 31 shots.

Australia will play Croatia at midnight Tuesday AEST.