today 03:29
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Representatives of Slovakian hockey lost in the quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cup against the home team Canada 3:4 after extra time. They held on as the favorite of the match for a long time, tying the game at 3:3 in the third period, but conceded in the 6th minute of extra time after an individual move by Connor Bedard.
You can watch the Canada – Slovakia duel at ŠPORT.sk ONLINE with audio commentary >>
Defending champions Canada will face the United States in the semifinals on Friday 5 January at 0:30 CET in Halifax. The second semi-final pairing is made up of the Swedes and the Czechs, who will meet on Thursday from 19:30 CET.
Libor Nemec was declared Slovakia’s best player in the match. Goalkeeper Adam Gajan, defender Pavol Funtek and forward Adam Sýkora made it into the top three of the Slovakian side.
The Slovaks have not finished waiting for access to the semi-finals of the Under 20 World Cup, which they have been waiting for since 2015.
Under-20s World Cup – Quarterfinals:
Canada – SLOVAKIA 4:3 pp (1:0, 2:2, 0:1 – 1:0)
Targets: 7. Bedard (Stankoven), 26. Guenther (Othmann, Bedard), 30. Ostapchuk (Dean), 66. Bedard – 27. L. Nemec (Š. Nemec, Petrovský), 34. Bačo (Repčík, Nátny), 52 L. Nemec (Mešár, Groch)
Judges: Iwert (Germany), Šindel, – Klouček (both Czech Republic), Waleski (USA), red card: 3:6 for 2 min., power play: 1:1, weakness: 0:0, 10,349 spectators
Assemblies:
You have: Milic – Zellweger, Del Mastro, Clarke, Allan, Korchinski, Hinds, Matier – Guenther, Wright, Othmann – Bedard, Stankoven, Roy – Ostapchuk, Gaucher, Dean – Fantilli, Bankier, Schaefer
Slovakia: Gajan – Sh. Nemec, Funtek, Štrbák, Nátny, Kmec, Groch, Bečár – Mešár, Petrovský, L. Nemec – Sýkora, Dvorský, Čiernik – Žlnka, Repčík, Mišiak – Šotek, Dej, Bačo – Štefančík
At the beginning of the match, the Slovaks focused on eliminating the expected onslaught of the opponent. They repeatedly showed self-confidence in their offensive efforts, Dvorský did not use a promising opportunity after a breakaway, whose team at one point led 5:0 in shooting. Later the Canadians increased their emphasis, more often coming in front of goalkeeper Gajan, who conceded the opener in the 7th minute. The Slovaks lost the puck in the passing game, Bedard came up and increased his lead to the top Canadian score of the tournament – 1:0. Gajan supported his side several times in the first half, coming close to equalizing in the 17th minute, but the tenacious Repčík failed to score on the break.
Gajan made several saves early in the second half against promising chances for the Canadians, who took a two-goal lead in the 26th minute. Nátny received a small penalty for throwing the puck away, and Guenther took advantage of Othmann’s pass from close range – 2:0. He scored Canada’s second goal to be fouled shortly after, and Slovakia’s first power play lasted just three seconds. Libor Nemec took care of it, who scored Šimon Nemec’s shot – 2:1. However, this situation lasted only two minutes, as the Slovaks fell into the offensive zone, the Canadians entered into a three-on-one breakaway, in which Ostapchuk singled out the throw – 3:1. The goal-rich part of the game was closed by the action of Repčík, who on the counterattack waited with a pass, went around the goal, and Bačo overcame the opponent’s bewildered defense from close range – 3:2.
The Canadians led 34:15 in shooting after two periods and went into the third determined to rebound the Slovaks with a goal. Behind Gajan, the rod rang twice and even Dean couldn’t beat him after bluffing. In the 49th minute the Slovaks built up pressure, Sýkor didn’t take advantage of the confusion in front of Milica, but shortly after Mešár eliminated the defender behind the goal and his close pass was exploited by an open Libor Nemec – 3:3. Mišiak had a great chance in the 53rd minute, who only found himself in front of Milica after Sýkor’s pass, but ruined his joy with a quick catch. The Canadians wanted to decide before the end of regular playing time, and repeatedly “burned” in front of Gajan. Defender Funtek thwarted Bedard’s finish in front of the open goal with his stick. In the 60th minute Šimon Nemec crosses Bedard, but the Slovaks keep the tie until the end of the third period.
Wright hit the crossbar from close range in extra time, Gajan subsequently thwarted two attempts by Canada and the goal was not scored even after a shot and subsequent save by Petrovský. The decisive moment came in the 66th minute, in which Bedard made an individual move, after which he beat Gajan-4: 3.
