- Switzerland loses 2-1 against the Czech Republic in Freiburg on the Euro Hockey Tour and has to accept the second defeat in the second game.
- All goals come in the last third: Enzo Corvi’s goal in the 57th minute comes too late.
- The Czech Republic leads the table ahead of Sweden, who are also unbeaten.
The game between Switzerland and the Czech Republic was already a close affair on the Euro Hockey Tour in Finland a month ago. It was no different with the new edition in Freiburg. However, the outcome was different: Switzerland had won 3-2 after extra time in November, but this time they had to bow 1-2.
Enzo Corvi briefly restored hope in the 57th minute with his goal. Perfectly used by Captain Gaëtan Haas, the Davos striker finished powerfully. Switzerland’s goal was long overdue but came too late. The push for an equalizer at 6v5 in the closing stages went unrewarded.
Defeated Hughes twice
It was Jan Kostalek who opened the score in the 50th minute against the flow of play: the Czech found the gap from the blue line and caught the powerless Connor Hughes in the near corner. The goalie from Fribourg-Gottéron came to his home stadium in place of Ludovic Waeber for his premiere in the Nati goal. At 0:2 five minutes later, Hughes was unlucky: Jiri Smejkal scored via his back. The puck had previously bounced off the rink.
Patrick Fischer’s team showed commitment and willingness, especially in the second third. The Swiss managed to literally constrict the opponent behind. The shot ratio of 17:1 spoke volumes.
Dominik Egli and Tristan Scherwey missed the greatest chances: Egli was allowed to try three times in the 26th minute in front of Marek Langhamer, but found his master in the Czech goalie. And Scherwey was able to go it alone after a laser pass from Christoph Bertschy, but finished a little too hastily. In the first third, the teams mostly limited themselves to scanning each other.
The voices of the game
Czech Republic undefeated
Despite the second defeat at the home tournament, the Nati can build on the performance against the third in the World Cup. It was flattering for former SCB coach Kari Jalonen’s side to take the three points. The Czechs won’t care: they lead the table with 6 points from two games.
Here’s how to proceed
At the end of the four-country event, Switzerland will compete in Freiburg on Sunday at 1 p.m. (live on SRF) against Finland, who, like the home team, are still without a win after beating Sweden 3-4 after a penalty shoot-out. Teemu Hartikainen, Finn in Servette’s service, made sure of that with his penalty attempt for the highlight of the tournament so far (see video below).