SV Wiler-Ersigen and Florbal MB on the Men’s side and Chodov and 1.SC Vitkovice on the Women’s side are the four Southern Conference teams to qualify for the Champions Cup semi-finals.
Tatran Stresovice v SV Wiler-Ersigen
Revenge is a dish best served cold and it was SV Wiler-Ersigen serving that dish as they made up for an overtime loss in last season’s Champions Cup to turn the tide and take the victory this season with a decisive 4-3 win in Prague to break the home crowd’s hearts and send them home in the Quarter-Finals. The contest as ever was very even between the two sides who couldn’t be split in Game 1 in Switzerland. Starting off game 2 it was the Swiss side who struck first through Marco Louis who helped end the first period with Wiler-Ersigen on top 1-0. Two quick replies meant Tatran took the lead through goals by Tomas Hanak and Ondrej Sadlo. More back and forth led to things being all equal with 5 minutes to go with shots ringing off the post and the atmosphere raising in the building until it was shattered by Jan Bürki who broke Tatran hearts with a dagger of a goal with 39 seconds left to go in the match, all but securing the the tie for the green and white side. SV Wiler-Ersigen will now happily wait to see who they will face in the Semi-Finals
Kloten-Dietlikon Jets v Chodov
Chodov won the first match at home but now it was time for the Jets to host the deciding second game. First period stayed even with no goals but Chodov started the scoring in the second period. Barbora Lovískova took the ball and ran with it while Barbora Vavrova made her blade available in front of the goal and scored. The home team did not want to leave the score like that and Lea Suter scored from a lucky pass from Laila Ediz six minutes later. In the third period both teams had their chances but the score remained the same until very end. As the Jets needed a win in this game to take the match to overtime, they tried to equalise with six against five. But Katerina Kovarikova scored to empty net and with a 2-1 win, Chodov continue to the Champions Cup Semi-Finals.
Zug United v Florbal MB
Zug United hosted the second quarterfinal and the entrance was free if you decided the colour of your shirt right – blue. Some line changes also happened for the home team compared to the first match – this time Albin Sjögren, Miko Kailiala, Sami Johansson, Robin Nilsberth and Manuel Staub formed the starting line-up for Zug. And that had a good impact in the beginning when Sjögren scored the first goal, assisted by Kailiala. Florbal MB’s Jan Zoufaly evened the score from a penalty shot and the Czech team got the lead when their captain Milan Tomasik made it 2-1. Jakub Varecha scored one more for Florbal MB and Nilsberth one for Zug so first period ended 3-2 for the visitors. If the first 20 minutes stayed rather even, then the rest of the game was controlled by Florbal MB. Martin Feigl scored once and Jiří Besta scored two in the second period, the 6-2 goal being shorthanded one and beautifully assisted by Adam Hemerka. Third period continued similarly to the second one. Adam Delong scored a hat-trick and Tomasik his second in the game. Several penalties in the end messed up the rhythm but one thing was clear – 10-4 win for Florbal MB and ticket to the Champions Cup semi-finals with two wins against Zug United.
1. SC Vítkovice v Zug United
After taking game 1 in Zug, hosts Vitkovice came home to a loud crowd, ready to make noise in order to push their side to the Semi-Finals. It was Zug who started off the stronger with 2 goals scored by two Czech Forwards on their team with Martina Repkova and Denisa Ratajova striking early on to put Zug up by 2 goals. Vitkovice pushed back however and after some more back and forth action in the 2nd period, Vitkovice levelled the tie at 3-3 with 40 minutes gone. The crowd, sensing a tep into the Semi-Finals was so close got behind their team and the hosts in Blue responded, dominating in the early stages of Period 3 with some intricate passing and teamplay leading to goals from Klara Horcickova and Sara Seevaldova to put the hosts up by 2. Zug knowing that after the game 1 loss they had to win in Game 2 pushed and pulled their goalkeeper to pile the pressure on the Vitkovice net. With the chaos of trying to play 6 on 5 then turning into 5 on 5 when returning their goalkeeper back onto the field it was Nela Sikorova left open to flick in a delightful finish from the side of the field to put the dagger in the hearts of the Zug fans in attendance. A late goal from the Swiss side unable to change the result as it was Vitkovice winning 6-4 and joining the other Czech Women’s team Chodov, in the Semi-Finals of the Champions Cup.
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