体坛英语新闻：Banska Bystrica bounces back to tie Bratislava for top spot in Tipsport Liga

BRATISLAVA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Second-ranked Banska Bystrica came back from 0-2 down to frustrate leader Bratislava 4-3 in overtime in a much-anticipated match in the 42nd round of Slovakia's premier hockey league on Tuesday.

The thrilling derby saw Bratislava take a two-goal lead early in the game but also allow the visiting team to bounce back and turn the game around with three consecutive goals.

Home team's forward Milan Kytnar managed to tie things up and take the game into overtime but the Rams' Canadian center Jordan Hickmott secured the win for Banska Bystrica two minutes into OT.

Both teams are now tied with 83 points although Banska Bystrica played two games less than Bratislava.

The previous league-leader Kosice is still struggling, losing its third consecutive match but trailing the top two teams by only two points.

All five goals in its away game were scored in the second period with the home team of Zvolen emerging on top, triumphing 3-2 over Kosice and tying fifth-ranked Trencin with 65 points.

After a stumble against Nitra in their first game of the new year, the players of Poprad have been steadily delivering satisfactory results.

The team from the north of Slovakia achieved its fifth consecutive victory against Detva and occupies a solid fourth place in the Tipsport Liga standings.

The Chamois, as Poprad's players are nicknamed after the horned goat-like animal in their team's logo, took a two-goal lead in the first period and had to repeat this feat in the third to seal the win 5-3 as Detva managed to close the gap.

In Budapest, Trencin managed to snap its three-game losing streak, defeating the home team 6-3 and sending it to the penultimate spot in the rankings.

Budapest tried to answer Trencin's crushing four-goal lead but Trencin did not let this one slip, led by Jozef Svec - author of two goals and one assist.

The other Hungarian team Miskolc also came out empty-handed in the 42nd round, succumbing on home ice to Michalovce 2-1.

Miskolc opened the scoring in the first period but the Tipsport Liga's newcomer answered with two of its own that proved enough at the end of regulation, moving up two spots in the rankings to seventh place as a result.

After 13 straight rounds sitting on the bottom of the league table in the penultimate spot, Nove Zamky managed to lift itself to 11th place after defeating Nitra 4-2.

The visitors tried to mount a comeback in the final period being down by four, but it proved to be too difficult a task, managing to cut the deficit only by two. Nove Zamky's right-wing Patrik Stevuliak led the scoreboard with two goals.