Neuchâtel, Switzerland, December 9, 2019 – The world’s top two seeds and respective gold and silver medal holders Sweden and Finland both picked up vital wins to move onto the cusp of an automatic quarter-final place, while Norway picked up a third successive win to seal top spot in Group C.
Australia and Singapore booked their place in the playoff stage from Group D, after both secured victories to guarantee a top two place and set up a Day 4 decide between the two which will decide who wins the group. Slovakia got over their opening day mauling to clinch a big win over Latvia, with a Day 4 derby to come against neighbours the Czech Republic to decide who will progress to the last eight automatically.
Patinoires du Littoral:
10:30- Australia 4:1 Thailand (Group D)
Australia recovered from a first period setback to see off Thailand 4:1 and book their place in the playoff round, since their win combined with other results means the Aussies are now guaranteed a top two place in Group D. Thailand are now out of contention for the playoff round, but still have a classification tie to look forward to.
Thailand went into the game seeking their first win at this year’s tournament and they threatened to scupper Australia’s hopes we Thanaporn Tongkham broke the deadlock for them on the stroke of the first interval.
The setback seemed to rouse Australia, and they mustered a quick response as Amanda Bartrim fired in just after the restart. Blaise Hodges, one of the standout Aussie players in Neuchâtel so far, then completed the turnaround by firing home just before the 40 minute mark.
A nervy final period followed as Australia battled to preserve the lead, but they put the result beyond doubt in the closing minutes, as Jessica Birks converted before Hodges notched her second to seal a 4:1 win.
13:30- Slovakia 7:5 Latvia (Group B)
Slovakia concocted a perfect remedy to their opening day blues against Sweden, putting in a composed display to oust Latvia despite stern resistance from the Baltic side. The win keeps Slovakia’s hopes of automatic qualification for the quarter-finals alive, while Latvia are now likely to contest the playoff-round.
The game was just two minutes old when Michaela Sponiarova edged Slovakia ahead, but Latvia were quickly back on level terms through Julija Rozite. Slovakia weren’t to be outdone in the first period, however, with duo Kristina and Paulina Hudáková both forcing the ball in to open up a 3:1 lead by the first interval.
Latvia’s Simona Grapena cut Slovakia’s lead to one goal, as she slotted in after the first break, but Denisa Ferencikova and Kristina Belicova duly responded for Slovakia to increase the lead to three.
Sponiariva hit home for her second to extend Slovakia’s advantage to 6:2 at the start of the third period, and from there, the Slovaks appeared to take their foot off the gas. Amid such complacency, Latvia threatened to capitalise, scoring three unanswered goal through Elizabete Pavlovska and a Laura Gargere brace. Slovakia’s lead was back down to one, making for a grandstand finish.
But Slovakia held on for a crucial win, and Kristina Hudakova made the game safe late on, calmly firing in with just five minutes left.
16:30- Norway 2:1 Japan (Group C)
Heidi Rod’s double helped Norway overturn a first period deficit and clinch a 2:1 win over Japan, sealing top spot in Group C and a place in the playoff round to reach the quarter-finals.
The winless Japanese threatened an upset when Fuka Shibata scored from Amana Sasaki’s pass just before the first interval, but ten minutes into the second period, the excellent Rikke Ingebrigtsli Hansen fed player of the match Rod to score Norway’s equaliser.
Parity restored, the Norwegians probed and pushed for a winner, but were continually frustrated by the heroics of Japanese goalkeeper Miko Yamanaka. But their patience finally paid off with seven minutes of the match remaining, Ingebrigtsli Hansen and Rod combining again to clinch a valuable winner and send Norway through to the playoff round as group winners.
19:30- Sweden 10:2 Czech Republic (Group B)
Moa Gustafsson hit a hattrick as reigning gold medal holders Sweden downed the Czech Republic 10:2 to go top of Group B with one round of group fixtures remaining.
The Swedes are on the brink of an automatic quarter-final berth, and will win the group if they beat Latvia in their final group match. Meanwhile, the Czechs will play their near neighbours Slovakia in a do or die game, with the winners likely to book their place in the quarter-finals and the loser having to go via the playoffs.
Sweden were quick out of the blocks as Gustafsson struck to break the deadlock, before an Emelie Wibron penalty and further goals from Johanna Hultgren and Sara Steen opened a 4:0 lead up by the first interval.
Stephenie Boberg arrowed in next for Sweden before Gustafsson grabbed her second, and then it was the turn of the Czechs to earn some respite as their standout performer on the night, Natalie Martinakova, beat goalkeeper Amanda Hill to restore some pride.
Myra Aggestal duly responded with Sweden’s seventh before Martinakova hit another in reply for the Czechs, but despite temporary resistance the game was already out of reach. Hultgren hammered in her second goal to make it 8:2 to Sweden before the second interval, and then in the final period of the game, Gustafsson completed her hattrick and Steen slotted in her second, capping off another fine team performance.
La Riveraine:
15:00- USA 2:7 Singapore (Group D)
Singapore knew that a win over the USA would guarantee them a top two spot in the group and passage to the quarter finals, courtesy of Australia’s earlier win over Thailand. The Singaporeans did get the job done but had to come from behind to do so after they surrendered an early lead to trail at the first interval.
Yun Shawn Yee’s early goal meant Singapore’s quest for qualification from Group D got off to an ideal start, but they were pegged back as Vera Niskanen and Marie Haggstrom hit retaliatory strikes to give the USA a 2:1 lead.
Not to be denied, Singapore roared back with three goals in four minutes to snatch control, Mandy Lim concerting before duo Tiffany and Jerelee Ong both arrowed in.
An American own goal in the final third of the game extended Singapore’s lead to 2:5, and Siti Nurhaliza Khairul Anuar and Yun Shawn Yee made it a comfortable scoreline with two further goals in the closing minutes. Singapore are through to the playoff round, and the USA will feature in the classification ties.
18:00- Germany 0:17 Finland (Group A)
Finland responded to their Day 2 humbling by Switzerland in spectacular style, dismantling Germany in a 17:0 demolition which keeps Finnish hopes of automatic qualification for the semi-finals alive. The Finns are currently set to qualify automatically for the last eight from Group A, but must wait for the outcome of Switzerland’s final group match against Poland to be sure.
Germany, meanwhile, have slipped to three defeats in three and will be forced to contest the playoff round.
As the game began, there was a sense Finland were ready to right the wrongs from their performance against the Swiss, and as soon as Oona Kauppi smashed in their first, it became a painful afternoon for Germany. Oona Kauppi would finish on a hattrick, but it was her sibling, player of the match Veera Kauppi, who orchestrated Germany’s downfall. The Finnish number 28 hit four goals, while Sofia Leino was also at the heart of the Germans’ torment with four fine finishes of her own.
Johanna Homi helped herself to a brace during the second period, while Laura Manninen, Mia Vallenius and Ella Sundstrom all got onto the scoresheet too. A German own goal to add to the Finnish just summed up their rotten luck.
A chastening night for Germany, and they must dust themselves down ready for the playoff round where they will hope to kickstart their campaign. The Finns now have two wins from three, and whether they progress to the last eight automatically or have to go via the playoffs, they will go into their next match brimming with confidence.