Ireland leave UAE feeling cold with final IIHF world championship defeat

Yuri Faikov's side failed to win a single game in their quest for promotion to the next tier of world ice hockey.

UAE ice hockey player Saeed Al Nuaimi, seen in action against Georgia last year, scored against Ireland in the World Championship.
Powered by automated translation

The UAE's campaign to reach the next tier of world ice hockey ended with another heavy defeat last night after losing 7-3 to Ireland in South Africa.

The Emirati team failed to win a single game during the Division III World Championship, after going down 15-0 and 8-1 to South Africa and Luxembourg respectively last week, on the back of narrow losses to North Korea and Greece.

Ireland had gone into the game on the back of a 5-0 defeat to Luxembourg and a 2-1 loss to North Korea, but proved too strong for Yuri Faikov's side in Cape Town.

Sean Dooley had opened the scoring for the Irish just after the five minute mark, before the UAE equalised courtesy of Saeed Al Nuaimi, capitalising on good work by Faisal Al Blooshi.

But the Irish regained the lead inside two minutes thanks to Steven Balmer, then went on to extend their lead to 3-1 before the break.

The second period saw Ireland reach 5-1, with Gareth Roberts claiming a brace, then scoring his third of the match - and eighth of the tournament - seconds into the final period.

Dooley made it 7-1 before Ali Al Mazrouei hit back for the UAE. Faikov's side missed a penalty before Salem Al Romaithi scored with seconds left of the game to make it 7-3.

South Africa won their final game against North Korea 4-1 to confirm their promotion to Division II Group B.

Follow us