IIHF World Championships: Great Britain 5 Italy 3

The hosts were pegged back three times by their rivals, before Brett Perlini's second goal of the night proved decisive.

Cade Neilson's empty-net goal with just over two minutes left then really started the party.

Italy led the head-to-head 8-5, with one tie, in 14 previous meetings, but a 4-3 win for GB in Budapest five years earlier had set them up for their memorable clash with hosts Hungary, which saw them promoted back to the top flight for the first time in a quarter of a century.

Outshot 33-17 that day, two goals from Brett Perlini, with Rob Dowd and Ben O'Connor also on target, proved decisive. And 13 of the GB squad that day lined up for this latest instalment, with a place among ice hockey's global elite on offer once more.

Again, GB needed only a point to join the top flight in 2024 alongside Poland, who secured their spot with a 6-2 win over Romania, while Italy - coached by Canadian Mike Keenan, a Stanley Cup winner with the New York Rangers in 1994 - needed to win.

Phil Pietroniro had the first shot of the nighht kicked out by Ben Bowns, before Rob Dowd's effort was held by Canada-born Justin Fazio at the other end. But play was then held up after Matt Myers went hard into the boards behind the Italian net following a bump from Thomas Larkin and needed to be helped off the ice by two teammates.

Bowns produced a good blocker save down low to keep out Ivan Deluca, before Ollie Betteridge went close from Cade Neilson's pass.

And GB went on the powerplay when Pietroniro was called for hooking Mike Hammond, with Perlini tapping home at the far post from Hammond's great pass just 13 seconds into the man advantage to open the scoring.

Italy were back on level terms, though, with the referee's arm up to signal an upcoming kneeing penalty against Neilson, as Fazio was withdrawn for an extra skater and Larkin's wristhot was deflected through the skates of Bowns by a British stick during the 6-on-5.

Josh Waller was denied by Fazio but Brandon McNally was called for hooking to give GB another powerplay chance, however the Itelians killed the penalty without any serious alarm.

The hosts were pushing just before the first break, though, as Myers was spotted back on their bench, with Sam Ruopp shooting just wide and Dowd seeing an effort on the turn blocked as it remained all square.

Luca Frigo tested the glove hand of Bowns soon after the restart, but GB regained the lead after 59 seconds when Dowd won the puck on the end boards and found Neilson, who looked set to tee up Betteridge, but then shot through the five-hole of Fazio.

Neilson went close again after good work from Dowd and Betteridge, denied by the skate of Fazio, who then held onto Waller's wristshot on the next shift.

But Italy levelled it up in the 25th minute after some scrappy play in the GB zone ended with Alex Petan sending a shot from the right hashmarks under the right arm of Bowns.

Bowns was able to keep out a strong wristshot from Larkin, when the big London-born defenceman tried to find the same small gap, and held onto an effort from Pietroniro from the opposite side of the ice next shift.

And GB took their third lead on the night in the 29th minute when Betteridge seized upon a loose puck just inside the Italian zone and found Brighton-born Hammond in the left circle and he outwitted Fazio with a smart backhand finish.

It was nearly 4-2 when Mark Richardson found the puck on his stick between the circles, but Fazio stuck out his right leg to foil him and held onto Liam Kirk's follow-up attempt.

And Italy levelled when Frigo attacked on the left wing and played a pass inside to Daniel Glira, who shot above the glove hands of Bowns.

But parity lasted just 88 seconds as GB, having removed Bowns for an extra skater with the referee poised to call a cross-checking penalty on Daniel Mantenuto, kept possesion well and Hammond found Perlini for another far-post conversion.

They could not capitalise on a tripping penalty against Peter Spornberger either side of the second break, but made a disciplined start to the third period, taking care of the puck and eating away at the clock.

Betteridge saw a low wristshot scooped up by Fazio, while Bowns robbed Petan with a stunning left pad save when he finally faced his first shot of the period after seven minutes.

Pietroniro had an effort deflected wide and a wristshot by Enrico Miglioranzi was comfortably seen all the way into his glove by Bowns.

And GB did a good, focused job of working the clock, battling for possession along the boards, getting over the red line and chipping the puck in behind the Italian defence, then getting sticks in the way of passes and blocking shots to keep Bowns largely untroubled.

And when Keenan removed Fazio for an extra skater with three minutes left, GB sealed their victory as Kirk chased a clearing puck and won it behind the empty net before feeding Neilson to fire home.

The final two minutes of the match were played in a cauldron of noise as the GB fans celebrated wildly.

Scoring
First period
1-0 Perlini (Hammond, Mosey) PP 5.40
1-1 Larkin (Tedesco) DP 11.21
Penalties: Pietroniro (I) hook 5.27; Neilson (GB) knee 1.21; McNally (I) hook 15.05.

Second period
2-1 Neilson (Dowd) 20.59
2-2 Petan 24.34
3-2 Hammond (Betteridge) 28.43
3-3 Glira (Frigo, Mantenuto) 34.29
4-3 Perlini (Hammond, Kirk) DP 35.57
Penalties: Mantenuto (I) cross 35.57; Spornberger (I) trip 38.32.

Third period
5-3 Neilson (Kirk) 57.50

Shots on goal: Ben Bowns (GB) 6-9-7=22-3; Justin Fazio (I, 59.29) 9-11-3=23-4, empty net (0.31) 1-1.