Swiss success!

Switzerland made another very strong game and qualified for the semi finals after beating the Czech Republic 2-1. Even it was a tight game it felt like a well deserved win for Switzerland. And the Czech head coach Alois Hadamczik agreed.

"We have to congratulate Switzerland, the whole tournament they have showed great hockey. I think Switzerland deserved to win today as they were more aggressive in the first two periods. We fought our way back in the third but we missed our chances. You can't win if you score one goal", Hadamczik said.

Gerber worked hard in goal. Photo: Michal Eger

Switzerland score one goal in each of the two first periods. Denis Hollenstein gave the Swiss the lead after a great Swiss play, assisted by Suri and Blindenbacher Hollenstein scored from short distance when Ondrej Pavelec allowed a rebound. 2-0 was scored by Roman Josi. One of many Swiss power play goals this tournament. Ryan Gardner first had a great chance and a few seconds later Roman Josi was free at the faceoff circle and beat Pavelec with a powerful shot.

"Just happy", Josi said about what he felt when he saw the puck go in. "I was lucky to get the shot on net".

In the third the Czechs got a quite early goal when Zdenek Kutlak got an easy from close range on the power play. After that the Czechs had a lot of puck but didn't create many chances. With about three and a half minutes late however Radim Vrbata got the big chance with a breakaway but Gerber blocked the chance.

Vrbata's chance. Photo: Michal Eger.

The last seconds was dramatic after Switzerland got a strange delaying the game penalty with 22.8 seconds left and the Czechs managed to create two big chances but Gerber kept the puck out of the goal and the Swiss players could celebrate.

"It's huge for our country. A big step for were we want to go", Nino Niederreiter said. Switzerland will now play USA in the semi final. "We have to find a new game plan for that game, we haven't seen them yet", Niederreiter said about the semi final.

The Swiss head coach Sean Simpson was obviously very proud of his team. "The team really showed that they wanted to win. Switzerland has been stuck at quarter final level at many years but this team did it"

Photo: Michal Eger.

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