Dubai Camels caught up in Abu Dhabi Storms

The Abu Dhabi Storms ensured the battle for the 2011-12 Emirates Hockey League (EHL) title goes down to a decisive third game with a 4-3 overtime win over Dubai Mighty Camels. Juhani Ijas was the hero for the home side as he raced clear to score with just 16.6 seconds left on the clock at the Zayed Sports City Ice Rink. Having lost the first game in Dubai, it means the Storms will retain their crown if they win the final game of the three-match series, set to take place back at the Dubai Mall. Abu Dhabi captain Ahmed Al Mazrouei should be back for the decider, and he was happy his team-mates were able to keep themselves in the hunt with their dramatic win. “This was a hard game with the Mighty Camels, a very good game and you saw all the people who came to watch. I keep my hope to win it next time, I hope we can win in Dubai” he said. “The coach said play well, play hard and continue to try to win and the guys listened to the coach and they played hard and won.” The Camels have enjoyed one-game leads in the last two EHL finals but been unable to close out the championship, and they started slowly here. Only one goal was scored during a tight first period as Storms forward Matti Faggerstrom finished from close range with 8:27 remaining. Suhail Al Muhari missed a penalty shot with 13:08 of the second to go, before the Camels equalised through Neal Carley 34 seconds later. The home side were back in front with 10:10 of the period to go though as Ijas scored his first of the night. The intensity of the game was beginning to mount, and the Storms were reduced to five men as a fight broke out with 09:45 of the second to go. A flurry of sin-binnings for both sides followed before Kellin Carson made it 3-1 to the Storms, thanks to a large deflection off Camels keeper Matt Jones. Jamie Nelson scored on the breakaway with 4:15 to play to set up a frantic finish, and when Christoph Kueffer stabbed home from close range it looked like the comeback was complete. However, the home side dominated the 10-minute OT period and got their reward with a little over 16 seconds left as Ijas raced onto a reverse pass from Faggerstrom to take the tie into a deciding game.