Slovakian ice hockey players won over Switzerland 2:1 in their second match in the basic B-group at the Under-20 World Cup. Forward Ján Chovan scored the winning goal in the 57th minute. It was the first three points for the Slovaks in the tournament. They will play their next match on Sunday, December 29 from 23:00 CET against the Czech Republic.
Photo: SITA, MATHIAS BERGELD/BILDBYRŹ/Shutte / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Moment from the match Switzerland – Slovakia.
Switzerland – SLOVAKIA 1:2 (0:1, 1:0, 0:1)
- Goal: 34. Schneller (Reber) – 19. Jenčko (Radivojevic, Dvorský), 57. Chovan. Referees: Brander, Vikman – Niittylä (all Finland), Ankerstjerne (Denmark), suspensions: 2:2 for 2 minutes, power plays and weakness: 0:0, 3672 spectators.
Switzerland: Kirsch – Bünzli, Muggli, Johnson, Rhyn, Schneller, Sansonnens, Balestra – Kaderli, Graf, R. Meier – S. Meier, E. Meier, Braillard – Neuenschwander, Dorthe, Reber – Steiner, Gruber, Antenen
- Slovakia: Urban – Štrbák, Barcík, Radivojevič, Baran, Valent, Chromiak, Kráľovič – Pekarčík, Dvorský, Jenčko – Císar, Pobežal, Klečka – Dej, Kukumberg, Vojtech – Tomík, Šatan, Cedzo – Chovan
The Swiss had a better start to the match, and thanks to several mistakes by the Slovak team, they had chances. Goalkeeper Urban held his team back several times and the Slovaks gradually leveled the game.
They were close to a goal in the 11th minute, when Kukumberg had a shot, but it didn’t beat the goalkeeper Kirsch. The Slovaks managed to weaken from the 16th minute, and shortly after that, their power play was approaching, but in the end it did not happen.
It was taken care of by Jenčko, who during the signaled penalty missed Radivojevic’s shot – 0:1.
The beginning of the second period also belonged to the Swiss, who were more dangerous offensively, but they were unable to score even during the power play from the 29th minute. Shortly after that, the Slovak team got the first numerical advantage, but not only did they not use it, but in its conclusion, they did not avoid a mistake.
After returning from the penalty bench, Schneller got the puck out of bounds, Radivojevic did not have time to stop it and Urban cashed in after bluffing into the backhand. At the end of the second half, Kleček had a promising chance, but his shot was thwarted by Kirsch without preparation.
In the game’s balanced third period, the Slovaks did not use the power play from the 51st minute, and Pobežala’s penetration in the 55th minute did not bring a goal. The decision was made by Chovan, who was the 13th striker in the lineup.
In the 57th minute, after an opponent’s mistake in the pass, he got to the puck and aimed it precisely from between the circles – 1:2.
Voices /source: JOJ Sport/:
Ivan Feneš, SR coach: “It was a difficult match and we expected it. Our team showed what it is strong in. It was a team performance. We blocked a lot of shots and at the end of the match the reward came.
We knew the goalkeeper (Samuel) Urban had quality, he showed great form in both games. Today was a different game than against Sweden, we played more with the puck. There were good moments from our side, but also from the Swiss side, but we held on.”
Luka Radivojevic, defender of SR: “We started the match well, we scored a goal to make it 1:0. That’s how we led yesterday against Sweden, but we learned from it. I believe that we will continue such performances.”
Daniel Jenčko, striker SR: “We needed these three points. We showed character in the third period. I think that our combativeness also made the decision. I try to do my job. My role was to be in front of the goal, and when I passed the puck and saw it in the goal, I was very happy.”
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
