Hungary took points from Estonia after a thrilling match
Estonia and Hungary played for important points as both teams are aiming to the B-division semi-finals. The match was really exciting all the way to the end, but it was Hungary who managed to win the match with the result 7-6.
Hungary took the lead in the first period and after that Estonia was chasing throughout the match. Both teams played skillful passing play and the intensity of the match was high. The teams created good scoring opportunities in both ends of the rink. Especially the Hungarian line Veronika Szarvas – Brigitta Radácsi – Nicole Vértesi moved the ball nicely and cost trouble for the Estonian defence.
Hungary had a two goal lead when the third period started, but Estonia had lots of fighting spirit.
The Estonian team managed to reduce the Hungarian lead four times during the last period, but this was not enough as Hungary also scored. In the end it was only a one goal difference which secured the victory for Hungary.
Brigitta Radácsi, who scored four goals in the match, was really happy after the match.
– “It was a fantastic match and I am very glad that we could win. It was a tough fight, but I enjoyed to play.”
What do you think helped your team for the victory today?
– “We played as a team very well. We fought hard together and were not willing to give up. Even though Estonia reduced our lead few times, we had trust in our own game and that helped us to score again.”
Tomorrow Hungary will meet Germany in the last group match and the victory of the group is at stake. Radácsi is looking forward for the match.
– “I think the match will be as hard as today. We will try to do our best and hopefully we can win.”
With the third victory Hungary secured their place in the B semi-finals. The other team advancing to the semis from group D will be eighter Germany or Estonia and it will decided on the matches on Wednesday.
Latvia took an easy victory over USA
Latvia and USA played the A-division morning match. Both of the teams were after their first victory in the tournament.
Latvia took control of the match from the beginning. They shot four goals already in the first period and the match was pretty much decided.
USA had their momentum in the second period through special situations. Tiffany Winkler scored two goals, first one from a penalty shot and the second she made with an old-timer from behind the goal during a power play. These goals reduced the Latvian lead to 5-2, but still there was no question about the winner. The final result was 13-3 for Latvia and the most effective players were Zeltite Bankava (3+1) and Baiba Jurusa (1+3).
First victory for Poland
The match between Denmark and Poland was a real thriller, which Poland settled in the last period and won with 5-3.
Denmark had a good start of the match and led with 2-0 early in the match, but the Polish came with another attitude to the second period and reduced the lead to 1-2.
Poland was able to even the score twice in the final period and in 48.33 the Polish captain, Agata Plechan, (pictured) took Poland to the lead for the first time. Denmark had their chances within the final minutes, one open net opportunity and one bar shot, but it was Poland that scored the last goal of the match.
For the Polish captain this victory was especially important.
– I am really happy since this is just what we needed. This was also a very important victory for me personally as I play in Denmark and know the Danish players. Many of them are my opponents in the league and it is not always the case that my team wins there, but this time my team won.
– We were really motivated to get our first victory, since it is our goal to be within the seven best teams without qualifying. This game gave us more self-esteem and we are now ready to challenge the tough Finnish team as well.
Poland will play their last group match against Finland tomorrow at 13.45 CET.
Four goals for Yui Takahashi
Japan played with great fighting spirit and could win over Canada with 9-3.
Team Japan started with a great flow in the match against Canada and only after 17 seconds Eriko Sugimo scored the first goal. The lead increased to five goals before Canada´s Marie-Ève Cadieux scored the first for Canada. Japan could however continue their good drive throughout the match and the score was increased to 9-3 before the final whistle.
The star of the match was the small and agile Yui Takahashi, (pictured) who scored four goals.
– This is a new World Championships goal record for me. I have however scored six goals in the Asian Pacific Championships (APAC) 2009 against Korea.
Team Japan played with great spirit today.
– We got together after the loss yesterday and decided that we will have to play with more fighting spirit to win the match and we did. Our aim is to win the last placement match as well, and if we play like we did today, we will.
Japan, placed 4th in group D, will play for the 17th place and Canada, placed fifth in the group, will play for the 19th place on Thursday the 10th of December.
Australia took an important victory over Slovakia
The dominance in the match between Australia and Slovakia altered a lot. Slovakia controlled the first period and obtained a 2-0 lead. Then in the second period Australia took the charge and with four goals they got a 4-2 lead in the end of the period.
When Australia scored two more goals in the beginning of the third period, it looked like the match was already decided.
Slovakia did not give up and with three goals they were able to reduce the Australian lead to one goal, but the time ran off and Australia could win the match.
Australia secured the victory with the 2nd period goals. Three of those were shot by Jemima Kanerva.
– “I am glad that we were able to win and the second period went well. The end of the match became a bit too exciting when Slovakia succeeded to score.”
With the victory Australia has a good chance of advancing to the B-division semi-finals.
– “If we make it to the semi-finals, I would prefer to play against Germany or Estonia. I have heard that Hungary has played quite impressively.”
Switzerland group winners
Switzerland was able to win the entertaining battle against Finland and are the winner of group B in the A-division.
There were a lot of scoring opportunities, especially for Finland in the start, but many of the shots missed the target. In 15.59 Anne Suomalainen was pushed incorrectly in front of the Swiss goal and got a penalty shot opportunity, but Laura Tomatis remained undefeated.
Suomalainen was however the architect behind the first goal during power play as she gave an excellent pass to Maiju Merikanto, 1-0 to Finland.
Switzerland took control of the second period and during the Swiss power play, Natalie Stadelmann evened the score 1-1. Tiia Ukkonen took Finland to the lead once more, but Stadelmann, who played her 100th international, was also involved in Switzerland´s second equalizer, as she assisted to Ramona Gabathuler´s goal , which bounced behind Jonna Mäkelä.
Also the 3-2 leading goal for Switzerland was a bouncing ball, the final touch made by Daniela Stettler. The 4th Swiss goal bounced, this time from a Finnish defender, and the Swiss were in a 4-2 lead.
Finland pressured a lot in the end and Elina Kujala´s solo performance, when she forced herself through the Swiss defence reduced the Swiss lead to one goal.
In 57.00 the Swiss team received a penalty, but fought hard and were able to keep their goal clean, even when playing with 4 vs. 6. Mirca Anderegg´s empty net goal ended Finland´s fight for the group victory.
Daniela Stettler gives credits to Tomatis in the goal in Swiss Floorball Association´s interview.
– In the hectic end of the match, when we played with 4 against 6, our goalkeeper brought the needed calmness.
Jari Oksanen was of the opinion in Salibandyliiga´s interview that despite the loss, Finland was able to raise the level of play concerning some parts of the game.
– Switzerland was just as good as we expeted, so we did not lose to a bad opponent. Some balls bunced more to the opponent today and we had to play a lot of box play, which did not help our job.
Switzerland will play against Czech Republic in the semi-final starting at 15.15 on Friday and Finland will need to win or play a draw against Poland in order to play in the semis.
Singapore winner of group C
Singapore´s game improved during the match against the Netherlands and the Singaporeans will play in the B-division semi-final.
For over half of the game it looked as if the Netherlands would come out as the winner of the match as they created more opportunities to score. In 33.22 Jill Quek evened to score and then Siti Melissa Hamid scored two goals in a row and Singapore was leading 4-2 with ten minutes left in the game. Maartje Schokker reduced the lead once more, but 4-3 to Singapore remained as the result.
Singapore will play in the B-division semi-final against the 2nd placed team in group D on the 10th of December at 14:00 CET.
