The Swiss national team starts the third tournament of the Euro Hockey Tour with a defeat. Coach Patrick Fischer's team lost 0:1 on penalties against Finland in Langnau.
06.02.2025, 22:38
SDA
Because Fischer had to withdraw eight players at short notice due to injury or illness, the Swiss team lost a lot of experience. With Dario Rohrbach, Yanick Sablatnig and Jonas Taibel, three outfield players made their national team debuts. Nevertheless, there was little to criticize about the Swiss team's performance in the sold-out arena in Langnau. The hosts were very committed and disciplined and had more of the play, but once again lacked efficiency. As a result, no goals were scored in the regular 60 minutes.
In extra time, the Swiss were celebrating after 42 seconds, but Dominik Egli's goal was disallowed due to goalkeeper obstruction. As a result, the hosts failed to score in their third power play of the game, meaning the penalty shoot-out had to decide the game. Only Rohrbach, who plays for Langnau, scored for the Swiss side, while Saku Mäenalanen, who also plays for the SCL Tigers, and Henrik Borgström were successful for the Finns. The result was a bitter defeat for the locals.
The Swiss did not need any time to get going. They already created more chances in the first period. Nicolas Baechler missed the best opportunity in the 6th minute when he shot at the far post from close range. The middle period also got off to a promising start. First Christoph Bertschy (21st), the only scorer in the 1:0 win in the last duel against the Finns, failed to score. Then captain Calvin Thürkauf (24) appeared alone in front of Finnish goalie Lassi Lehtinen, but was unable to lift the puck over his pads. The Finns then briefly got into the game better, although Swiss keeper Sandro Aeschlimann also showed his skills on several occasions. Not counting the penalty shoot-out, he saved 29 shots.
On Friday, the Swiss will fly to Stockholm together with the Finns. There they will face the hosts on Saturday and the Czech Republic, who beat the Swedes 4:1 in the first game, on Sunday.
Telegram:
Switzerland - Finland 0:1 (0:0, 0:0, 0:0, 0:0) n.p.
Langnau. - 6000 spectators (sold out). - Referees Jerabek/Mejzlik (CZE), Altmann/Schlegel. - Penalty shootout: Bertschy -, Mäenalanen 0:1; Schmid -, Borgström 0:2; Fazzini -, Kapanen -; Rohrbach 1:2, Oksanen -; Egli -. - Penalties: 1 times 2 minutes against Switzerland, 3 times 2 minutes against Finland.
Switzerland: Aeschlimann; Egli, Berni; Aebischer, Jung; Baragano, Chanton; Frick; Bertschy, Thürkauf, Künzle; Schmid, Jäger, Fazzini; Rohrbach, Sigrist, Müller; Sablatnig, Baechler, Knak; Taibel.
Finland: Lehtinen; Almari, Pulli; Leppänen, Sund; Laaksonen, Vittasmäki; Winberg; Repo, Kossila, Mäenalanen; Nurmi, Kapanen, Borgström; Oksanen, Ruohomaa, Nättinen; Leino, Björninen, Mäntykivi; Keskinen.
Remarks: Switzerland without Fora, Marchon, Ritzmann, Senn (all over) and Pasche (substitute goalie). - 1st international caps for Pasche, Rohrbach, Sablatnig and Taibel. - 61st goal by Egli disallowed for goalkeeper interference. - 64th timeout Switzerland. - Shots: Switzerland 31 (11-8-9-3); Finland 29 (9-11-8-1). - Powerplay score: Switzerland 0/3; Finland 0/1.
