Sweden – Czechia 2: 4, Fantastic turn! The Czechs managed to fight for survival, they defeated the Swedes at the World Championships and are in the game for the quarterfinals

The Czechs rejoice at the goal against the Swedes. From left Matěj Stránský, Filip Chytil, goal scorer Jakub Vrána and Libor Šulák.

Vít Šimánek, ČTK

Hrubec appeared in the Czech goal for the fourth time in the tournament, and forward Lenc returned to the team, completing the third formation with Špaček and Stránský. The Czechs had a good start. Due to shoulder problems, Crow was led in the line-up as the 13th striker, yet he eventually jumped on the ice into the second formation, and it was he who produced the first big chance. His pass was extended by Chytil on a completely free Sekáč, who, however, directionally directed the puck next to the right post. “I’m just a clog, such chances have to change,” Omsk’s attacker poured ashes on his head in an interview with Czech Television.

The national team continued to operate, but did not score, which regretted it. The Swedes struck without injuring defender Lundkvist in the 13th minute. Rasmussen was caught up close by Hrubec, but then Wingerli picked up speed in the middle zone, got in front of Šulák and deftly flowed Friberg’s offer over Hrubec’s concrete.

The Czech exchange soon became even sadder. Klok left for two minutes, and the Swedes turned the power play. Kempe found Rakell, who hit the space on the left pole.

Pešán’s group started well in the middle part. She fired a number of shots at the Swedish goal. Hanzl is flowing, Hronek has not been hit by Kubalík with a shot and not even in a numerical advantage, but they have not matured on Reideborn. At the end of the period, the Czechs created pressure, Hronek released Sekáč, who was heading out from a promising position.

The Czechs weren’t even lucky when Špaček fired from the first one, the puck hit Wingerli’s stick, from which it bounced off the bar through Reideborn’s concrete. However, the Swedes were strong in personal fights, they did not let their opponents into big opportunities, and Filip Pešán’s group found themselves in a difficult situation before the last twenty minutes.

After the second break, however, things were happening in the arena. Players in red and white jerseys unleashed a goal hurricane on the ice, which had swept away the hitherto confident juice. During the attack on Hronka, a skirmish broke out on the ice at the very end of the second period, after which the Swedes went to four and cried. Stránský screened well in numerical advantage, Vrána leveled the puck for a shot and aimed exactly under the upper bar. The Detroit attacker poured blood into the Czechs’ veins. They literally flew on the ice and then it could be leveled. The blacksmith found himself in front of Reideborn, performed a bluff well, and fired from an angle into an open cage, but on the goal line, hockey player Pudase saved the Swedes from leveling, firing the disc to safety.

Nevertheless, the Czech captain scored a goal. The chisel charged him nicely between the rings and the center of Zug equalized to 2: 2!

But that was not all. In the 49th minute, after winning the bull, the disc from Kovář on the blue got to Klok, who threw it at the goal and the turn was completed! The Swedes longed for a settlement, but Hrubec took some excellent interventions. Olofsson, for example, tried in vain to overcome him. The Czechs played very selflessly, blocking a number of shots. In the end, the Northerners tried it at six, but Flek sprinted Rakella and sealed the Czech triumph in an empty cage. After him, Pešán’s selection moved to the fourth place with five points from four matches and he still has the fight for the quarterfinals in his hands.