Champions Hockey League debutant Innsbruck surprised against Servette Geneva

2023-08-31 20:58:13

The last two goals in the finish were empty-net goals for the Tyroleans. It had started badly for the home side. They weren’t even in the game when Geneva made a lightning start to take a 2-0 lead through Teemu Hartikainen (2′) and Vincent Praplan (3′). The Tyroleans then came into play a little better, but still without a goal.

That changed in the middle third when Lukas Bär (28th) and Canadian Kevin Roy (33rd/after some preliminary work by Senna Peeters) made it 2-2. Brady Shaw scored the home side a 3-2 lead in the 39th minute, turning the game around. And despite a strong final phase by the Swiss, it stayed with us, not least thanks to a very outstanding performance by Innsbruck goalie Evan Buitenhuis.

In the end, Corey Mackin scored twice in the 59th minute and Roy again (60th) into the empty goal of the guests.

Innsbruck, third in the main round alongside Salzburg, qualified for the European competition for the first time with only 24 teams left. Each team plays a total of six games, with the top 16 advancing to the round of 16. The Tyroleans are up against a Swiss club again on Saturday, Biel is waiting (with Fabio Hofer).