BELFAST GIANTS 1 TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 0
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars were looking to improve their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup in Belfast on Sunday afternoon but slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat from the Giants.
By Kris Smith
The Stars and the Giants would play out a scoreless first 40 minutes as both sides exchanged chances in a very tightly contested battle in Northern Ireland but the deadlock would finally be broken in the third period.
Inside the 45th minute, Belfast’s Ciaran Long would blast home the only goal of the game as he smacked a shot towards Jarrett Fiske from just inside the blueline and beat the Dundee goalie on his left side.
Marc LeFebvre’s men were quick to get back on the attack but struggled to find a way past Tom McCollum in the Giants goal and even after calling a timeout and emptying their goal for an extra attacker, the score line would remain unchanged.
The final buzzer brought the game to an end at 1-0 and leaves Dundee in third place in Group B, two points out of second place and they will face Glasgow Clan on the road this coming Friday in their final match as they must win to have any small hope of progressing.
However, the Stars first have to rest up and prepare for Wednesday night’s visit from Cardiff Devils in league action as they look to continue their rise up the league table in their first home game against the Welsh club this season.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #12 Jonathan McBean
Belfast: #86 Mack Stewart
Goals
1st:
2nd:
3rd:
1-0 Ciaran Long (Pierre-Olivier Morin, Mark Cooper) 44:28
All images: William Cherry/Presseye.
