An own goal earns Switzerland points
The team of Patrick Fischer is improving after a difficult start, but in the end is unlucky in the end. The start of the Olympic tournament still gives us hope.
–Often in the spotlight: Swiss goalie Reto Berra keeps away from Russian Dimitri Voronkov.
Photo: Mark Cristino (Keystone)
Almost four minutes before the end, Patrick Fischer and his assistant Christian Wohlwend threw their heads back synchronously, from the lips of the Swiss national coach could clearly hear “Oh, my God!” be read. Fabrice Herzog had just done everything right on the ice: how he initiated the attack, how he drove in front of the goal, how he broke away from the opponent, how he took the high puck, how he let the Russian goalie Ivan Fedotov get out – all high school. But then, when he had the half-empty goal in front of him and only had to push in, from an acute angle, the puck landed on the post and not in the goal.
Herzog’s big chance of equalization: instead of shooting into the half–empty goal, the Swiss shoots the puck at the post – after that, the Swiss coaches despair, while Andres Ambühl even “takes off” his hat.
Video: SRF
It seemed the safe 1: 1, which Herzog awarded shortly before the end, the equalizer would not have been undeserved by now. Even if, seen over the whole game, the Russians left the slightly better impression in a playful and physical way and therefore did not steal the narrow victory in any case.
A point win or maybe even a victory later in overtime would have made for a formidable start to the tournament for the Swiss ice hockey players. But even this 0:1 should give Fischer’s team an upswing. The game had nothing in common with the opener four years ago, the scoreless 1:5 against Canada.
Flashback just before the siren
The only difficult thing was the start of the game. The Russians started extremely rebellious. They consistently played out their running and, above all, physical strengths, engaged in intensive forechecking, to which Switzerland did not always have an answer ready. She had trouble with the set-up of the game, but also had trouble being able to drive into the opponent’s zone in a controlled manner at all, let alone providing for pressure phases. Yes, even Swiss counterattacks were prevented by the Russians early on in the Middle zone.
Nevertheless, Switzerland seemed to save the 0:0 in the first break, also thanks to the very safe and calm goalie Reto Berra. But then Russia made it 1-0 2.7 seconds before the siren. First, defender Yannick Weber missed at the blue line to prevent the zone entry of the later goalscorer Anton Slepishev. When the Russian then played the puck in front of the Swiss goal from behind the goal line, Enzo Corvi drove the disc into his own goal with his knee.
The 1:0 for Russia: Enzo Corvi drives the puck with his knee into his own goal.
Video: SRF
But the Swiss were not discouraged. They also got into the game better and better thanks to Russian help, due to an unnecessary foul by Stanislav Galiev. The power play just before half-time was good, Sven Andrighetto hit the bottom edge of the crossbar with the best Swiss chance. As a result, it was a balanced game. On the one hand, the Swiss were now more confident in their actions. On the other hand, the Russians could no longer maintain the extreme pace from the starting third – their forechecking meanwhile lacked the power from the starting third.
For the most part, the Russians controlled the final third, which is also why their victory was not undeserved. But when Switzerland took more risks offensively after Fischer’s last powerbreak and tactical instructions five minutes before the end, he would still have become a hair’s breadth a fact, the Swiss equalizer. Herzog may be haunted by the thoughts of his lost opportunity for a while.
As a conclusion, despite the 0: 1 defeat, Switzerland remains this: if it could keep up so well against the clear tournament favorite and correct the moderate start in its game, there is quite a lot in it against the next opponents. For example, on Friday against the Czech Republic (9.40 am Swiss time), when it is already a matter of creating a good starting position for the knockout matches.
Russia – Switzerland 1:0 (1:0, 0:0, 0:0)
National Indoor Stadium, Beijing. – 934 Spectators. – SR Schrader (GER)/Sidorenko (BLR), Oliver (USA)/Ondracek (TCH).
Gate: 20. (19:57) Slepishev (Semyonov) 1:0.
Penalties: 7 times 2 minutes Russia, 5 times 2 minutes Switzerland.
Switzerland: Berra; Diaz, Müller; Untersander, Alatalo; Weber, Loeffel; Fora, Frick; Ambühl, Corvi, Hofmann; Andrighetto, Haas, Hollenstein; Vermin, Bertschy, Herzog; Mottet, Thürkauf, Moser.
Remarks: Switzerland without Aeschlimann (surplus), Malgin, Simion (sick). – Goal shots: 30:33 (8:9, 11:13, 11:11).
That was it from the ticker Russia – Switzerland. A match report will follow shortly. Thank you very much for being there. Switzerland play their second match on Friday. The match against the Czech Republic will start again at 9.40 am, and that match will also be ticketed here at this point.
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Although Switzerland wins the goalscoring statistics with a score of 33:30, because only the goals count, three Swiss shots at the goal perimeter are of no use. In a duel of two teams with good goalies, Russia wins 1-0.
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Hofmann gets one last chance, but it’s not enough. The Russians win 1-0.
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Switzerland now has 6-on-5 fielders. Reto Berra is out of the gate. Still 31 seconds to play.
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The replay proves it: Duke hit the post.
Switzerland is now taking the time-out. 77 Seconds left to play.
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The final phase has begun, Switzerland is attacking, actively looking for the 1:1.
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In fact, Switzerland is now taking more risks, the strikers are no longer thinking defensively in case of doubt. Herzog is rewarded for speculating, comes to a huge chance, has the empty goal in front of him, but does not score.
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Fischer reaches for the tactical board. He knows: only 5 minutes left to play, now it needs a tactical adjustment. Russia still 1-0 ahead thanks to Enzo Corvi’s own goal 2.7 seconds before the end of the starting third.
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Switzerland would have to play power play, the Russians in luck. Weber cashes an opponent’s stick in the face, but the referees did not see it.
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At first, Gusev dribbles a knot into the leg of Swiss defender Ramon Untersander, but fails solo to Berra. In return, however, Switzerland actually comes to a 3-on-1 counterattack, but Herzog misses the conclusion, his shot comes from a much too acute angle.
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Meanwhile, both penalties have expired, even the short Swiss power play is over. The shot ratio of 28: 24 per Switzerland, but the 1: 1 is no longer really in the air. Slowly, more must come offensively, if Switzerland still wants to score here.
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Defender Alexander Nikishin comes back to the blue line with strong dribbling from behind the Swiss goal and pulls the trigger. Berra sees nothing, does not roll, realizes only in hindsight that the puck went to the post.
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Speaking of unnecessary punishment: after only 30 seconds of power play, Gusev takes a penalty for knocking the stick out of Mirco Müller’s hand. It continues with 90 seconds 4-on-4.
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A somewhat petty penalty against Switzerland, but for an action off the puck. Alatalo needs to get out.
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The excited defender Yegor Yakovlev comes to the end in the slot unconstrained. A spectacular parade of Berras with the catching glove prevents the 2:0.
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At the moment, nothing points to a Swiss equalization. The pressure of the Russians is not immense, but nevertheless they are now confidently controlling the game. The question for Fischer at the moment: when will be the right moment to take offensive risks? It’s probably too early at the moment.
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Every coach likes to see that: even the “artists” do dirty work. The Andrighetto Block:
The Block by Sven Andrighetto
Full commitment of the Swiss.
Video: SRF
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Good block of Andrighetto. He and Hofmann stayed on the ice from the previous 4-on-4 and found themselves with unusual outnumbered tasks.
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Russia completely, just under a minute now on the power play.
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Loeffel comes to a good chance. His shot from close range is held by Fedotov. But because Loeffel looks up at the goalie, there is a penalty. We continue with 4-on-4 hockey.
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