The Latvians started actively, but goalkeeper Mann stopped their shooting attempts without any problems and then the Americans began to assert themselves. In the 7th minute, Bellows and Barber ran Peek’s throw from the blue line and the goalkeeper Merzlikins collected for the first time. Subsequently, Jones surpassed him in numerical advantage. The US captain also took part in the third goal, when he weakened Bordeleau in weakness, whose attempt Merzlikins apparently underestimated.
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The Americans won three times in four minutes and the fate of the match was decided. A year ago, Latvia sensationally defeated Canada at the start of the World Cup, but this time the favorite did not surprise. Active player Jones hit the post in another power play, so the USA team had to wait until the beginning of the second period for the fourth goal. At 20:33 Lafferty took care of him with an accurate shot.
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Subsequently, both teams had several chances, but both goalkeepers caught reliably. In addition, Merzlikins was again helped by the stick. In the 38th minute, Džerinš was able to reduce from the break, the former player of Hradec Králové did not beat the goalkeeper of the Swedish team Skelleftea, who also started at the Beijing Olympics in February.
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At the turn of the second and third thirds, the Latvians did not use more than a minute overpowering five to three, two seconds before the second player returned to the ice, but Djerins, who played at the 11th World Championship, reduced his career to 1: 4. The spectators did not see another goal despite several promising chances.
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| Hockey World Championship: |
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| Group B (Tampere): |
| USA – Latvia 4: 1 (3: 0, 1: 0, 0: 1) |
| Goals and recordings: 7. Barber (Bellows, Peeke), 11. S. Jones (Schmidt, Galchenyuk), 12. Bordeleau (S. Jones), 21. Lafferty (Megna) – 42. Jerih (Rihards Bukarts, Chukste). Judges: Vikman (Fin.), Rohatsch – Merten (both German), Synek (SR). Exclusion: 4: 4. Utilization: 1: 1. Weakening: 1: 0. Attendance: 7938. |
| USA: Mann – S. Jones, Megna, Peeke, Schmidt, Blankenburg, Hughes – Watson, Lafferty, Kuhlman – Hayden, Galchenyuk, Bordeleau – Barber, Bellows, Meyers – Gaudette, Farrell, Lettieri. Trainer: David Quinn. |
| Lotyšsko: Merzlikins – Jaks, Zile, Kulda, Mamčics, Čukste, Sotnieks, Bergmanis, Smons – Balcers ,, Abols, Kenins – Krastenbergs, Džerins, Rihards Bucharts – Marenis, Batna, Roberts Bukarts – Dzierkals, Smirnovs, Jelisejev. Trainer: Harry Vitolins. |
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