Within the "witch's cauldron" of Prague, there's not a miracle each day

Anybody who was craving for the following miracle after the ice hockey sensations in opposition to Canada (level win after 1:6 deficit) and Finland (3:2 victory) was slightly upset. Although Austria’s crew supervisor Roger Bader had as soon as once more tied his inexperienced fortunate tie of hope, the favourite was within the lead. The Czech Republic stored the higher hand in Prague with a 4:0 (1:0, 2:0, 1:0) win and is on the right track for the World Cup quarter-finals.

For the red-white-red crew, the mission stays to keep away from relegation. The primary match puck will likely be in opposition to Norway on Sunday (4:20 p.m., ORF Sport+) – in a duel on equal phrases.

“You possibly can inform that the Czech Republic is a rustic that’s loopy about ice hockey,” Linz’s Lukas Haudum had already burdened earlier than the opening face-off. The striker is totally proper. When the hosts enter the mighty O2 Enviornment, the place is in full swing. Disco music, clapping, cheerleaders with trumpets, flags so far as the attention can see, deafening noise – with round 18,000 followers behind them, issues actually get going right here. Particularly when “The practice has no brakes” blares from the loudspeakers within the Mallorca type version. Then the Czech cracks, who’ve come right here to win gold, appear to select up much more pace.

“New day, new recreation”

The primary ten minutes had been characterised by fixed stress, the 1-0 for the six-time world champions 27.2 seconds earlier than the primary break got here from a counterattack. After an intervention by Clemens Unterweger, the Finnish referees (laborious) selected a penalty, which Ondre Kase didn’t miss and scored with a chic hook previous the robust ÖEHV goalie David Madlener (twentieth).

Shortly earlier than, the defensively well-organized and pinprick-focused Austrians, who had come onto the ice with the reminiscence of an excellent 2-1 victory after a penalty shootout over the Czech Republic on the 2022 World Cup in Tampere, had had a very good part – after all accompanied by a shrill refrain of whistles. True to the motto: “No person ought to dare to beat our Czechs.”

Switzerland had already managed to do that in Prague, and Austria was heading in the right direction within the second half. Paul Huber was not even a stick’s width away from making it 1:1 (twenty ninth minute), and the sport was utterly open on this part. However solely till the thirty sixth minute, when David Kubalik took benefit of a 4:3 majority to make it 2:0 for the Czech Republic.

After that, the stands shook and the followers danced their hearts out. And so they did not cease till simply 64 seconds later, Jakub Flek – once more on the facility play – made it 3-0 (thirty seventh minute). There actually was no stopping this transfer.

However, the rating was a bit too excessive on this part. Austria deserved extra. However the reality is what seems on the ultra-modern video dice. And there it was 4:0 (forty second minute), aim scorer David Tomasek.

“New day, new recreation, new probability,” says NHL star Marco Rossi: “We now have to place what was behind us.” And deal with Norway. In different phrases, on the opponent who has gained the final 4 World Cup duels with Austria – 3:2 after additional time (2007), 5:0 (2011), 5:3 (2019) and 5:3 (2022).

Mats Zuccarello, Rossi’s NHL membership colleague on the Minnesota Wild, and veteran Patrick Thoresen, who needs to present it one other go at 40, are those who catch the attention. “This can be a good worldwide, disagreeable crew with a powerful first block. However we’re assured that we will beat them,” stated Bader.