- The Swiss ice hockey women’s national team is in the semi-finals at the World Championships in Brampton (CAN).
- The SIHF selection, led by an outstanding Lara Stalder, beats Japan 5-1.
- In the semi-finals, Coach Muller’s team will face defending champions Canada.
After the arduous 4:3 victory in the preliminary round, the Swiss were actually warned against the Japanese. But like on Monday, they fell into reserve due to unfocused defensive work. Haruka Toko scored from a 2-1 situation immediately after an unsuccessful Swiss power play.
In the second Swiss majority 10 minutes later, Lara Christen broke the spell. The defender saw the gap in heavy traffic in front of the goal and netted a wrist shot.
A furious start to the middle third
The start in the middle third should be decisive: the Swiss started quickly and ensured a reassuring three-goal lead up to the 27th minute:
- 21st minute: Alina Müller, launched by Lara Stalder, moves into the attacking third with speed and closes, the rebound is unluckily carried by a Japanese player into her own goal – 2:1.
- 25 minutes: Stalder is not attacked on the left wing and hits the top right corner beautifully – 3:1.
- 27 minutes: Stalder fights for the puck behind the Japanese goal. Her cross, which was still distracted, lands on Rahel Enzler, who does it from an acute angle 4:1 achieved.
Enzler scores twice
After that, Japan’s keeper Miyuu Masuhara had enough and made way for Riko Kawaguchi. However, the Asians were not capable of a real reaction. In two consecutive Japanese overpower situations, the Swiss were closer to the shorthander than the Japanese to the powerplay hit.
In the final third, Colin Muller’s protégés confidently managed the lead – and even increased it: Enzler deflected a Müller shot on the power play to make it 5:1 and made herself the only double goal scorer of the game.
At least one Japanese woman turned out to be a bad loser: Akana Hosoyamada pushed Shannon Sigrist into the gang without any motivation. The Swiss had to be accompanied off the ice with a pained face.
Canada not invincible?
In the semi-finals on Saturday, the SIHF team will meet a supposedly overpowering opponent: the Canadians, Olympic champions and winners of the last two world championships, are waiting. The game is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. CEST (live on SRF).
In the preliminary round, the Swiss lost 4-0 against Canada – but in the quarter-finals against Sweden, which is ranked lower than Switzerland, the World Cup hosts showed themselves anything but invulnerable.