Despite the particular context surrounding this 49th day of National League, the Biel players did not give in to panic. Sheltered, qualifying for the final series already in their pockets, they left it to their pursuers to manage their psychotic crisis. Any apprehension would obviously have been futile, but the reasons for losing ground, sooner or later, were multiple.
Tschantré goes to motherhood
Faced with a reduced workforce – seven elements announced injured or recovering – coach Antti Törmänen lost his captain Mathieu Tschantré twenty minutes before the start of the game. The future returnee hastened to join his wife at the hospital where the birth of their third child was expected.
An evil for a good, finally. After being honored with dignity the previous weekend by the numerous assistance during the visit of Davos, the attacker to the two decades spent on the ice of Zealand would have disputed his 900th official meeting for the EHCB in front of deserted stands. There are more suitable ways to cross such a course.
Cunti hit in the face
A second defection then occurred shortly before mid-game when Luca Cunti, the author of the sublime 2-0 (5th minute), was forced to throw in the towel after receiving in the face a shot from close range from Patrick Geering . With seven defenders and ten attackers available during the last half hour, Biel could have ended up running out of steam and see his two-length lead, built during the initial five minutes of this strange duel, melt over time. No one, behind his television screen or radio, would have cried professional misconduct.
However, this was not the case. Because the Zurich Lions obviously did not intend to do violence to return and because the local team did not intend to sell off this match, despite the relative stake, despite the headwinds.
An eye on the totomat
Now only missing the conclusion, Saturday at Ilfis, against Emmentalians condemned to the classification round. Ensured for their part to win the fifth position in the hierarchy, the Biennois will have one eye on the Langnau ice and another on the totomat. Geneva, Davos and Zurich are the three potential candidates who can still stand in their way in the first round of the play-offs.
In a fortnight, when the federal ordinance decreed this Friday will no longer have to be? If that can allow the infirmary to evacuate its occupants by then …
Julien Boegli, Biel
Biel – Zurich 5-1 (2-0 0-0 3-1)
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Tissot Arena. In camera by federal order. Referees: MM. Salonen (FIN), Dipietro, Fuchs and Cattaneo.
goals: 3rd Pouliot (Fuchs, Hügli) 1-0, 5th Cunti 2-0, 41st Rajala (5 against 4) 3-0, 42nd Chris Baltisberger (Marti) 3-1, 58th (57’03) Schneider (empty cage) 4 -1, 58th Riat (57’13) 5-1.
Biel: Hiller; Yakovenko, Kreis; Rathgeb, Forster; Ulmer, Fey; Sataric; Hügli, Pouliot, Rajala; Riat, Nussbaumer, Fuchs; Künzle, Cunti, Schneider; Gustafsson, Kohler. Coach: Törmänen.
Zurich: Flüeler; Noreau, Marti; Phil Baltisberger, Geering; Trutmann, Berni; Sutter; Chris Baltisberger, Roe, Suter; Bodenmann, Krüger, Hollenstein; Diem, Schäppi, Pedretti; Fredrik Pettersson, Prassl, Wick; Sigrist. Coach: Grönborg.
Notes: Bienne without Brunner, Lüthi, Moser, Neuenschwander, Salmela, Ullström nor Wüest (injured). Present at the warm-up, Tschantré left the ice just before the match to join his wife, who is expecting their third child, at the hospital. Zurich without Blindenbacher, Ortio (injured), Jaakola, Fredrik Pettersson Wentzel (supernumerary foreigner) nor Simic (supernumerary). Hit in the face following a shot from Geering, Cunti leaves the ice and does not reappear (26th). Shot on the post of Pedretti (49th). Time out requested by Zurich (57th), who released his goalkeeper in favor of a 6th field player (56’01 to 57’03).
penalties: 6 x 2 ‘against Biel, 4 x 2’ against Zurich.
Created: 02/29.2020, 09:50
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