The first games for the Southern Division of the 2025 Champions Cup are now complete with the Czech teams gaining an advantage, winning 3 out of 4 matches over this past weekend.
Florbal Chodov vs Kloten-Dietlikon Jets (Women)
Kicking off the Southern Division on Friday evening were Chodov, who hosted the high flying Jets from Kloten-Dietlikon in a back and forth match that had both sides hold the lead and momentum on separate occasions. It was the Czech hosts who managed to prevail to finish as 8-3 victors.
The Jets got off to the better start of the two, taking a 1-0 lead after less than a minute of play. However, Chodov created chances and were testing goalkeeper Livia Werz in the Jets net. Lucie Baldreichová was the key player for Chodov all match and marked her impact with a hat trick in less than 14 minutes in the first period ending things at 4-2 after 20 minutes. The 4:2 lead, however, was chipped away by the Jets as the Swiss side worked hard and by the 32nd minute the score was tied again. Markéta Prontekerová put her Chodov side back in front shortly before the end of the 2nd period to make it 5-4 for the Czech side to the delight of the home crowd. The third period was further in the home sides’ favour as Marie Havlíčková did not need a second opportunity in burying her shot into the back of the net and restoring Chodov’s two goal lead. An empty net finish at the end of the game, moved the score to 8:5 for Chodov, which ended up being the final score. Half of the job is done for the Czech side before the 2nd leg in Switzerland. For Kloten-Dietlikon a chance for redemption and a must needed win to keep their hopes of qualification will take place in the 2nd leg on the 27th September at 19.30 in order to force an Overtime period and a chance to make the Semi-Finals.
Zug United vs 1. SC Tempish Vitkovice (Women)
Zug United and 1.SC Tempish Vitkovice got two re-matches for this edition of the Champions Cup as they also met in the quarterfinals last year. Then Zug United continued to the semi-finals. But in Sunday’s game, Vitkovice was the one to strike first. Jenna Kangas – who transferred to Vitkovice this season and played her first match in 10 months after breaking her ACL – gave a beautiful assist and Daria Drzymala did not think twice if she should score or not – she did. Zug’s Emma Hedlund equalised, and Zug got in the lead when Sindy Ruegger found Olivia Herzog all by herself in the middle. In the second period, Veronika Rybickova evened the game with a great solo effort. Then Zug United were creative with their free hit from the corner and the ball was played to Hedlund who scored with a brilliant no-angle shot. Even the Vitkovice defence could not react on time and probably thought there is no way somebody would score from there. But Hedlund did, meaning that the home team continued in the lead until the third period.
In the last period, Vitkovice’s Vendula Berankova showed why she is a key player for her team. Berankova started a high ball all the way from other side of the field, and it found its way into the net. Right after Vitkovice equalised, Rybickova scored her second in the game and Vitkovice got in the lead. Then Berankova scored again and Vitkovice were already in a two-goal lead just few minutes before the end. Martina Repkova scored on six against five and got Zug closer to equaliser, but it was not enough. Final score 5-4 for the Czech team and re-match awaits on Sunday 29th September at 15.00.
Florbal MB vs Zug United (Men)
Mladá Boleslav also made a perfect step towards the semi-finals, beating Zug United in the men’s quarter-finals. The encounter was very even throughout with as expected a very physical and tense matchup with both sides calling for fouls, penalties and calls from the referees at various points. Both defenses were resilient throughout, blocking chances, battling along the boards and staying strong in front of their own net. It was the home Czech side who got the breakthrough with a well worked free hit goal from the corner with some quick passes cutting through the Zug defensive structure leading to the finish from Patrik Suchánek, who slid it under the sprawling Nils Schalin in the Zug goal. Zug struck back in the 2nd period with a great solo effort by Andrin Christen, twisting and turning his way into a brilliant falling shot that found its way into the back of the net. Straight away however Mladá Boleslav hit back to retake their lead with Filip Zakonov batting the ball in after a scramble in front of the Zug goal. The dagger of a goal to Zug was scored on the interception and counter attack where Joakim Lund found himself in a perfect position to slam home the pass the side and make it 3-1 for Mladá Boleslav with under 10 minutes to go. Zug couldn’t respond and it was the home team who gained the advantage heading into Game 2 in Switzerland. Zug will need a win at home and to also come out on top in OT/Shootout in order to progress to the semi-finals. Game 2 will take place at Sporthalle Zug on Saturday 28th September at 17:00 CET.
SV Wiler-Ersigen vs Tatran Stresovice (Men)
In the last game of Round 1, the defending Champions Cup champions Tatran Stresovice met SV Wiler-Ersigen. Tatran were also the first to score when captain Marek Benes got the ball over the centre line and passed it on the other side to Matej Havlas who shot the ball in the net. But it did not take much time for home team Wiler-Ersigen to equalise. Deny Känzig does important work and steals the ball from Tatran, trying to give it to Albert Koskinen who then somehow manages to forward it to Simon Laubscher. And the game was 1-1! Tatran took the lead again in the second period when Jonas Kreysa is left alone against the goalkeeper, and he doesn’t miss. Instead, he scores a “toe drag” goal in hockey terms. Noah Siegenthaler equalised a bit later but Kreysa took Tatran back into the lead with his second goal in the game. In the third period, Wiler-Ersigen got on power play and Gianluca Persici evened the score. Another power play for the home team some minutes later and Albert Koskinen scored. Koskinen actually had all the time and space he needed to score that goal. Captain Benes equalised the match after 49 minutes of play and Radek Hanak scored just less than a minute later bringing Tatran into one-goal lead. But the game was not over. Noah Siegenthaler scored his second in the game and it was 5-5. The teams did not want to settle for a draw and especially Tatran kept pushing until the end. They also got a free hit around 10 seconds before the end but did not manage to build a good scoring opportunity from that. This means that the winner of the next match on Friday 27th September at 19.00 continues to the semi-finals.
