- The Swiss women’s national ice hockey team beats Japan 2-1 after a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Herning/DEN.
- Colin Muller’s weakened team doesn’t want to score a goal beforehand when outnumbered. The equalization to 1:1 is outnumbered.
- In the semifinals, the Swiss will meet the USA on Saturday (live on SRF).
The World Cup quarter-finals between Switzerland and Japan could have gone 3-on-3 both in regular time and then in the 10-minute overtime. The two teams fought a duel at eye level. Both nations had opportunities to decide the game before a possible penalty shootout.
But because the strength was dwindling and Andrea Brändli, like her opponent in the Japanese goal, didn’t allow any more goals, it went into a shootout. Of the first three Japanese shooters, none of them scored in goal, while Alina Marti and Sinja Leemann scored for the Swiss. After the fourth Japanese player also failed to score, the national team was able to celebrate reaching the semi-finals.
Two key players absent
Even in the preliminary round, the game against Japan was not a sure-fire success. The Swiss won 3-1. With Alina Müller and Lara Stalder, however, Colin Muller was missing two players in the quarter-finals, who made the difference in the group game.
In addition to the two important pillars of the team, who, like against Finland, were unable to play because of a positive corona test, Switzerland also had to do without Noemi Ryhner and Laura Zimmermann. Muller had 16 outfield players at his disposal, which was enough to put together three complete blocks.
The fact that the Swiss were able to force an extension was thanks to a shorthander. They fell behind in the 35th minute. Ayaka Hitosato had failed with her graduation because of the once again strong Andrea Brändli. Makoto Ito brought the rebound into the Swiss goal in the second attempt.
Power plays without effect
The Swiss women had previously had enough opportunities to score the opening goal. In the 9th minute they were able to double the number for 1:55 minutes. However, they failed to score, as did two other – and all previous – power plays. Leemann finally equalized when she was outnumbered when she and Evelina Raselli were able to attack the opposing goal. It was the only penalty against the Swiss.
The dream of the first World Cup medal since 2012 (bronze) lives on. In the semifinals, the task for the Swiss women against the USA will be much more difficult. In the preliminary round, the women’s national team lost to the Americans 9-0.