Ronalds Ķēniņš and Miks Indrašis scored for the Latvian national team.
The Slovak hockey players started the game purposefully, using every opportunity to throw at the goal guarded by Jānis Kalniņš, but the Latvian goalkeeper started the game with successfully thrown throws.
Latvian hockey players also managed to stay in the Slovak defense zone, but did not manage to score.
After four minutes and ten seconds of play, Slovakia earned its first rejection. The Latvians, playing in the majority, were unable to arrange the scoring opportunities, which was followed by a dangerous attack by the opponents on the goal guarded by Kalniņš, but the Latvian goalkeeper convincingly stopped the counter-attack by catching the puck in a gripping glove.
In the middle of the third, Richard Buchart was hit by a puck, injuring his ear, and the hockey player went to the locker room.
In the 11th minute of the game, Martin Marinčin scored the first goal with a long shot in favor of Slovakia.
In the 16th minute, Ronalds Ķēniņš, who sent the puck into the goal after the passes of Renārs Krastenbergs and Rodrigo Ābols, reached a draw.
In the first period, both teams actively counterattacked, but no more goals were scored.
In the second period, Latvia immediately went on the attack and Krastenbergs threw the opponent’s goal, but the puck flew past the goal.
In the 22nd minute, Jānis Jaks was denied a shot with a stick. Slovakia spent most of the two-minute majority in Latvia’s defense zone, but Kalnins continued to save the Latvian state from a lost goal.
Bucharest also returned to the square in the second period without being seriously injured.
In the 27th minute, two Slovak hockey players counterattacked against Jak, and Peter Cehlāriks sent the puck to the goal guarded by Kalniņš, reaching 2: 1.
Despite the fact that the Slovaks had taken the lead, they continued to attack quickly, while the Latvian hockey players were unable to stay in the attack zone for a long time.
Slovakia’s persistent attacks resulted in a goal when 17-year-old Juraj Slafkovski scored 3: 1 in the 32nd minute.
In the continuation of the third, Latvia had difficulties in defending itself in its defense zone, as well as in the close protection of the Slovaks, which prevented Latvia from carrying out attacks.
In the last minute of the second period, Bucharest tried to create an attack, but after an unsuccessful brake, it turned out without success.
In the third minute of the final third, Miks Indrašis scored the goal, who corrected the shot of Gints Meijas in front of the goal and reached 2: 3.
Shortly after the goal, the Latvians had the opportunity to play in the majority. After a successful play, Nikolay Yeliseev was in front of the goal, but he failed to send the puck into the goal. As the majority continued, Latvia still tried to make a mock, but the puck was expelled from the defense zone by the Slovaks.
In the 50th minute, the advantage of two goals for the Slovaks was restored by Peters Zuzins, who beat Kalniņš from a close distance.
In the continuation of the third, Latvian hockey players did not succeed in such successful positional attacks, however, they ran into several quick counter-attacks.
In the last two minutes, Latvia played with six players on the field and the Latvians tried to beat the Slovak goalkeeper several times, but Patriks Ribārs saved his team.
One second until the end of the regular time, Tomāš Jurčo sent the puck to the empty gate and reached 5: 2.
33 shots were taken through the goal guarded by Kalniņš, while Latvian hockey players threw 20 times at the goal of Slovakia.
Lauris Dārziņš is still not playing today after his injury in the match against Finland, therefore Rodrigo Ābols assumed the duties of the captain of the national team.
It has already been reported that in the first game of the group, Latvia lost to Sweden with 3: 2, followed by a loss to Finland with 1: 3.
Rodrigo Ābols and Andris Džeriņš could not train for the Latvian national team in Beijing for a few days due to Covid-19 restrictions, but defender Artūrs Kulda went to Beijing on Wednesday, but he still has to pass the Covid-19 test procedures.
In the only test match before the tournament, the Latvian national team conceded 1: 2 to the Danish hockey players on Monday, playing the match for one hour in training mode. Ronalds Ķēniņš scored for Latvia, but Mārtiņš Dzierkals scored in the extra time, which was played regardless of the result in regular time.
Latvia did not qualify for the 2018 Olympic Games. Latvia is playing in the Olympic Games for the sixth time, taking the highest place – eighth – eight years ago in Sochi.
The winners of the three groups and the best second place winners will immediately advance to the quarterfinals, while the remaining eight players in the playoffs will be determined by the remaining participants in the quarterfinals.
Composition of the Latvian national team for participation in the Beijing Olympic Games:
goalkeepers: Ivars Punnenovs (Langigavas “Tigers”, Switzerland), Jānis Kalniņš (Vēkšes “Lakers”, Sweden), Kristers Gudļevskis (Jēvles “Brynas IF”, Sweden);
defenders: Oskars Cibuļskis, Ralfs Freibergs, Kristaps Zīle, Patriks Ozols (all – Riga “Dinamo”), Jānis Jaks (“Sochi”, Russia), Uvis Jānis Balinskis (Litvinov “Verva”, Czech Republic), Nauris Sējējs (“La Chaux -de-Fonds “, Switzerland), Robert Mammitch (PSG Berani, Zlin, Czech Republic);
attackers: Lauris Darzins, Nikolay Yeliseev, Martins Karsums (both – Riga “Dinamo”), Miks Indrashis, Richard Bucharest (both – Vladivostok “Admiral, Russia”), Rodrigo Apple (“Orebro”, Sweden), Andris Jerins (Linz) Black Wings “, Austria), Oscar Batni (Mikeli” Jukurit “, Finland), Denis Smirnov (Geneva” Servette “, Switzerland), Renar Krastenberg (Villacher SV, Austria), Mārtiņš Dzierkals (Škoda, Pilsen, Czech Republic) , Kaspars Daugavins (“Bern”, Switzerland), Ronalds King (“Lausanne”, Switzerland).
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