The Czech hockey players lost in their second match of the World Cup in Latvia 2: 5. After Friday’s defeat with Russia, they remain without a point in the group A table.
This happened to them in a separate history at a major international event so far only at the World Cups in 1996 and 2004. The next match awaits the Czech team on Monday from 19:15 CEST against Belarus.
Coach Filip Pešán’s charges led Filip Chytil from the power play 15 minutes, but the Swiss turned the situation back to 1: 4 thanks to two goals by Tim Meier and goals by Gregory Hofmann and Tristan Scherwey. In the end, Hofmann again responded to Jiří Smejkal’s reduction with the fourth used Swiss power play.
The Swiss managed to conquer the Czech national team for the first time after six fights. They last succeeded in 2017 at the World Cup in Paris, where they won 3: 1.
While the Swiss made their debut in Riga, the Czech team needed to make up for a close Friday defeat with Russia in the fight for important points. This was helped by five line-up changes that the coaches reached for. Hrubec was in the goal again, on the contrary, for the first time the defenders Klok with Šustr and the attackers Lenc, Matěj Stránský and Blümel got into the team.
It started very quickly on both sides. After only 12 seconds, Smejkal found himself in a promising position, but he failed in the goalie Genonim. On the other hand, Andrighetto’s quick counterattack ended, but Hrubec was also attentive. At the beginning of the second minute, Hrubec excelled when he fired Siegenthaler between the rings. Both teams then defended the weakening.
Blümel could have increased the lead after 15 minutes, but his shot hit the post after a nice combination in the middle of the park. But the Czechs then played another power play and this time they were already successful. After quick short passes, Kovář charged Chytil, who ended up on a closer post.
However, Pešán’s choice did not enjoy the leadership for long. Just 25 seconds after the leading goal, Lenc fouled and his offense against the rules was punished by Hofmann for taking advantage of Hrubc’s hidden view. After three minutes of the second part, Lenc had to stick to the penalty bench for another foul, and for the Czech team it turned out the same as in the first case. Although Hofmann was still caught by Hrubec, on the other hand he did not succeed in bluffing into the Flek backhand, but then he already succeeded with a blow without Meier’s preparation.
In the power play of the Czech team, Crow fired hard from the ring and Genoni only displaced his attempt with luck. When it was played at five on both sides, Andrighetto took advantage of the space in the attacking period, Hrubec revealed a dangerous attempt with a little luck with the back of the trap. Then he threatened Meier again. The Czech team defended themselves during Vrán’s penalty, but in the 39th minute Scherwey passed and increased to 3: 1.
Hrubce Will replaced the third period, making his debut at the World Cup on his 29th birthday. Coach Pesan also shuffled the attacks. Stránský had the opportunity to reduce, but Genoni coped with his backhand ending.
In the 46th minute, Will was helped by a post after Hofmann’s shot from the right circle. In the middle of the third period during Chytil’s penalty, however, Meier already prevailed from this position. In the 55th minute, Smejkal corrected the flow of Chytil’s attempt, but in 57:08, the hopes of the Czech team to dramatize the conclusion were ended by Hofmann again with a blow from the right circle during Kovář’s expulsion.
Riga Ice Hockey World Championships – Group A:
CR – Switzerland 2: 5 (1:1, 0:2, 1:2)
Goals and recordings: 15. Chytil (Jan Kovář, J. Vrána), 55. Smejkal (Chytil, D. Sklenička) – 18. Hofmann (Ambühl, Simion), 25. Meier (Hischier), 39. Scherwey (Praplan, Bertschy) ), 51. Meier (Corvi, Kurashev), 58. Hofmann (Simion, Ambühl). Judges: Ansons (LVA), Vikman – Nikulainen, Sormunen (all Fin.). Exclusion: 7: 3. Utilization: 1: 4. No spectators.
Czech Republic: Hrubec (41. Will) – Hronek, D. Musil, Hájek, Klok, D. Sklenička, Šulák, Šustr – J. Vrána, Jan Kovář, D. Kubalík – Zadina, T. Zohorna, Chytil – Lenc, M. Spacek, M. Stransky – Flek, A. Musil, Smejkal – Blumel. Coaches: Filip Pešán, Martin Straka and Jaroslav Špaček.
Švýcarsko: Genoni – Untersander, Moser, Diaz, Geisser, Loeffel, Siegenthaler, Mirco Müller, Alatalo – Meier, Hischier, Andrighetto – Simion, Hofmann, Corvi – Kurashev, Herzog, Ambühl – Praplan, Bertschy, Scherwey. Trenéři: Patrick Fischer, Tommy Albelin, Marco Bayer and Christian Wohlwend.
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