SUI 2:4 LAT | Switzerland - Latvia (U18 World Championship)

U18 World Championship

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

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

Commentary by

Vladimír Koča

@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)

1st period
	01:56
	06:22
	11:49
	12:51
	13:39
	14:05
	16:10
	18:47
1st intermission
2nd period
	20:24
	28:06
	28:43
	33:35
	34:31
	39:18
2nd intermission
3rd period
	44:13
	50:28
Final