Czech Republic – Denmark 8:4 (end) | Switzerland – Latvia 2:4 (end)
final
Switzerland
2:4 (1:2, 1:2, 0:0)
Latvia
Friday 13.04.2012, 19:00 • Arena Znojmo. • U18 World Championship
     
    We listen to Latvian national anthem. Good night from Znojmo! (21:06:36)
     
    Best players: Xano Busser (SUI) - Elvis Merzlikins (LAT).
     
    Team Latvia deserved to win. After amazing performance presented by Latvian goalie Elvis Merzlikins his team get 3 points for win.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:55
    And Elvis Merzlikins is dancing the winning dance!
     
    59:36
    Nyffeler back in the net.
     
    59:36
    Highsticking by Swiss. Faceoff in the middle zone.
     
    59:31
    Team Latvia timeout.
     
    59:12
    And Nyffeler stays on the bench! Swiss play with six players.
     
    59:12
    Team Switzerland timeout.
     
    58:00
    Great chance by Sieber and Balmelli. Balmelli overshot the net!
     
    57:37
    We are still waiting for the goal in third period.
     
    56:27
    Faceoff in front of Swiss goalie.
     
    54:33
    Balmelli ruined the chance for Team Switzerland. He was alone with his teammate, but he didn't pass, he tried to shoot and dissapointed all three Swiss fans at the stadium.
     
    52:47
    Whole stadium is clapping for the skill of Elvis Merzlikins. Huge save by Latvian goalie.
     
    52:28
    Home team at full strength.
     
    51:28
    Latvians are in attack, but Augstkalns missed the net.
     
    50:28
    Balmelli (SUI) - 2 minutes for slashing.
     
    49:51
    Zemitis blocked the pass which was directed in front of the empty part of net.
     
    48:40
    Good chance by Swiss center Sieber.
     
    47:33
    Huge save by Elvis. Not Presley but Mezlikins, who is Latvian goalie.
     
    46:21
    Ozolins blocked the puck and was lying on the ice. Afterwards teammates helped him to get to the bench.
     
    45:40
    Swiss are really good but Latvian defense is like unbeateble.
     
    44:36
    Merzlikins is very good goalie. Swiss forwards are almost going crazy.
     
    44:13
    Martins Freimanis (LAT) - 2 minutes for highsticking.
     
    42:51
    Latvians play quite good in defense.
     
    41:54
    But Merzlikins is like a wall.
     
    41:17
    Good push from Team Switzerland.
     
    40:18
    Latvians are in attack.
     
    40:01
    Third period began.
     
    Referees are back from the locker room.
     
    Swiss were trying to do something with the game, but Latvians were lucky in quick counter attacks, so they're in the lead.
     
    Shots on goal: SUI 18, LAT 6.
     
    40:00
    Second period finished.
     
    39:18
    Goal for Team Latvia!
    Quick counter attack by Latvians ended with goal. GEORGS GOLOVKOVS shot under the bar. Assist: Karlis Ozolins.
     
    39:05
    Huge save by Latvian goalie. He was lying on the ice and Swiss forwards have no chance to put the puck in the net.
     
    38:56
    Faceoff in front of Merzlikins.
     
    38:31
    Swiss are pushing the Latvian team in front of their goalie.
     
    37:50
    Icing by Team Switzerland.
     
    37:37
    Puck stopped by goalie Nyffeler behind his post.
     
    36:18
    Swiss are playing really good hockey after their second goal.
     
    35:08
    Great shot by Nicola Brandi. Merzlikins was quite unsure where the puck is.
     
    34:31
    Goal for Team Switzerland!
    Power play action ended with a goal! Rebound by LUKAS BALMELLI after Simion's shot. Assist: Dario Simion.
     
    34:07
    Swiss are playing the power play well.
     
    33:35
    Kalvitis (LAT) - 2 minutes for holding.
     
    32:56
    Team Latvia is in front of Swiss goalie. That's not good for Swiss.
     
    30:32
    Swiss are trying to strike back.
     
    28:43
    Goal for Team Latvia!
    Augstkalns shot from the blue line to the back barrier. EDGARS KULDA found the puck and put it in the empty net. Assist: Edmunds Augstkalns.
     
    28:06
    Zangger (SUI) - 2 minutes for tripping.
     
    27:41
    Latvians play aggresive, but all hits are okay with rules.
     
    26:50
    Nice save by Merzlikins. He saved shot by Julian Schmutz.
     
    26:07
    Dangerous shot from a big angle by Swiss Nicola Brandi.
     
    25:12
    Icing by Swiss.
     
    24:24
    Good pressure made by Team Switzerland. Elvis Merzlikins is in a great form.
     
    23:58
    It almost was a goal, but there was a Swiss player in the goal priest.
     
    23:23
    Icing by Swiss.
     
    22:24
    Home team at full strength.
     
    21:34
    Latvians hit the post behind Nyffeler.
     
    20:47
    Team Switzerland plays in four.
     
    20:24
    And Brandi (SUI) is excluded for game delaying.
     
    20:24
    Puck on the bench.
     
    20:01
    Second period began.
     
    Players are coming back from their locker rooms.
     
    Good period from both sides. Latvians were quite unlucky in their power plays but thanks to mistake in Swiss defense is Team Latvia in lead.
     
    Shots on goal in the 1st period: SUI: 11, LAT: 8
     
    20:00
    First period finished.
     
    19:38
    Puck was behind Elvis Merzlikins twice. That's not good for Team Latvia.
     
    18:47
    Balmelli (SUI) - 2 minutes for highsticking.
     
    18:10
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    17:32
    Swiss are more dangerous in powerplay than Team Latvia, but Latvians are good in defense.
     
    16:40
    Dario Simion hit the bar from close range.
     
    16:10
    Kalvikis (LAT) 2 minutes for tripping.
     
    16:05
    Home team at full strength.
     
    15:58
    Still no better chance by Latvians.
     
    15:39
    Team Switzerland in four players!
     
    15:17
    Not a good power play by Latvians.
     
    14:51
    Team Latvia at full strength.
     
    14:05
    Goalie Nyffeler (SUI) was excluded for interference.
     
    13:39
    Swiss had a few power-play chances by Nikola Brandi (SUI). But then he slashed the goalie and was excluded.
     
    12:51
    Golovkovs (LAT) 2 minutes for slashing.
     
    11:49
    Goal for Team Latvia!
    What a surprise! Team Switzerland was better, but then came the breakaway by MARTINS LAVROVS. Goalie Nyffeler was face-to-face with Latvian player and he wasn't lucky.
     
    09:38
    Team Latvia is playing all on defense. Swiss are better now.
     
    08:31
    Swiss are trying to open the game and score some other goals.
     
    07:08
    Edgars Kulda is turning behind Nyffeler's net.
     
    06:22
    Goal for Team Switzerland!
    JULIAN SCHMUTZ scored a goal after his breakaway on the left side. No assists
     
    06:00
    Gelazis is wating behind his net.
     
    05:19
    Icing by Team Latvia.
     
    04:44
    Schmutz got down by one of the Latvian players. Huge bodycheck!
     
    03:50
    Swiss are trying to get back in game with nice actions and passes.
     
    01:56
    Goal for Team Latvia!
    Unexpected goal by Latvians. Captain of Team Latvia NIKITA JEVPALOVS took a shot from the close range and goalie Nyffeler had no chance to save it. Asistence: Martins Lavrovs
     
    01:08
    Swiss are taking over the control of the game. They have puck under control.
     
    00:21
    Latvians are behind their net.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Switzerland: Nyffeler (Schlegel) - Rouiller, Kreis (C), Lanzarotti, Busser, Baltisberger, Sartori, Zuber – Balmelli, Sieber, Simion – Brandi, Zangger, Diem – Schmutz, Muller, Dunner – Schmutz, Studer, Herzog.

    Latvia: Merzlikins (Punnenovs) – Skuratovs, Augstkalns, Rosinskis, Kalvitis, Rosinskis, Kalvitis, Gelazis, Makarovs, Freimanis, Zemitis – Ozolins, Golovkovs, Kulda – Bukarts, Lavrovs, Blugers – Jevpalovs (C), Jelisejevs, Lipsbergs – Kondrats, Sevcenko, Riekstins.

    Referees: Gofman (RUS), Sjoqvist (SWE) – George (USA), Pesek (CZE).
     
    Welcome. Match will begin in 19:00.
    Commentary by

    Vladimír Koča

    CZ@vkoca

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 7. Schmutz, 35. Balmelli (Simion) - 2. Jevpalovs (Lavrovs), 12. Lavrovs, 29. Kulda (Augstkalns), 40. Golovkovs (Ozolins)

    Switzerland: Nyffeler (Schlegel) - Rouiller, Kreis (C), Lanzarotti, Busser, Baltisberger, Sartori, Zuber – Balmelli, Sieber, Simion – Brandi, Zangger, Diem – Schmutz J., Muller, Dunner – Schmutz F., Studer, Herzog.
    Latvia: Merzlikins (Punnenovs) – Skuratovs, Augstkalns, Rosinskis, Kalvitis, Rosinskis, Kalvitis, Gelazis, Makarovs, Freimanis, Zemitis – Ozolins, Golovkovs, Kulda – Bukarts, Lavrovs, Blugers – Jevpalovs (C), Jelisejevs, Lipsbergs – Kondrats, Sevcenko, Riekstins.
    Referees: Gofman (RUS), Sjoqvist (SWE) – George (USA), Pesek (CZE)