Zug has not given up! In front of his home crowd, the defending champion won 4-1 against Zurich thanks in particular to a hat-trick from Ticino Dario Simion and his captain Jan Kovar, author of 3 assists. Zug is therefore no longer led by 3-2. Act VI of this playoff final: Friday at 8:00 p.m. at the Hallenstadion. Match to follow live on RTS2.
We could subtitle this 5th act: the revenge of Dario Simion. Unhappy during the Zug defeats at the start of this series with a few missed mountains, the Ticino striker redeemed himself. And how! Scorer Monday at the Hallenstadion, the winger of the 1st line of Zug scored the first 3 goals of his training.
If the equalization of the 38th had a euphoric effect under the helmets of the men of Dan Tangnes, what about the 2-1 of the 52nd and while the players of central Switzerland were outnumbered! But on these 2 actions, it is worth highlighting the exceptional work of Jan Kovar. An outstanding passer, the Czech led his line as a boss.
Malgin still goalscorer, Suri injured
Zug, however, should have taken cover before the third period. The end of the 1st period was stormy with 2 Zurich fouls which led to a 5 against 3. Marco Pedretti hit Reto Suri knee to knee and it was the Zugois who had to be supported to return to the locker room, while the he Jura striker received a 5-minute penalty, along with game misconduct. Then in the wake, it was Yannick Weber who split with an ax blow on Grégory Hofmann.
But despite this double numerical inferiority, the Lions held the shock by showing a magnificent abnegation. Certainly galvanized by this piece of bravery, Rikard Grönborg’s men were rewarded in the 31st minute with a success from the inevitable Denis Malgin. The former LHC player recovered the puck at the Zug blue while being almost stopped. But in 3 strokes, the center with Russian roots overwhelmed Hansson before mystifying Genoni at the near post.
Sigrist, la poisse
The Zurich people can bite their gloves, they who came very close to the knockout. But in the 35th, Nico Gross saved Justin Sigrist’s 0-2 by placing his cane in front of the goal line. Without this saving intervention, the fate of this final would certainly have been cast. The young Lions striker still had a golden chance to give the advantage to his colors. It happened in the 45th minute, but the Zurich player’s shot ended on Genoni’s right post.
With these 2 victories in a row, the Zugois will go full of confidence on Friday evening to the Hallenstadion. However, it is the people of Zurich who have the best chances of winning the title. Remember that there has never been a team capable of coming back from a 3-0 score in the final of the Swiss championship. The 4 times this happened, it was each time in the quarter-finals, the last occurrence dating from this year with the return of Davos against Rapperswil.
ats/bao