Unbelivable comeback sends Slovakia U20 to play for gold!

It was a battle and a half! The Slovaks didn't lead for a single second, yet they will fight for the gold medals. Czechia U20 started better as they emerged up by one from a back-and-forth first period and Jakub Wróbel doubled the Czech lead in the middle of the game. Two goals 69 seconds apart early in the third period tied the game up, however, the Czechs immediately regained the two-goal lead. With only three minutes left, it seemed like the Czech Republic will play for the gold, but Slovakia showed an incredible last-breath effort. Tim Danielčák narrowed the margin to one goal at time 42:14, completing a hat-trick. And just seven seconds before the final horn, Samuel Sakal became a Slovak national hero as he equalized. A well-fought overtime battle didn't decide the winner, it had to be all-in in the shoot-out. The skills competition suited the Slovaks much better as they scored on all three attempts while Jakub Borovský saved all Czech shots, propelling Slovakia into the finals after a sensational comeback!

Home Credit Arena

5-6 (SO)

(2:1, 1:0, 2:4 - 0:0)

Czechia U20 - Slovakia U20

Penalties

4:5

PPG

1:1

SHG

0:0

Shots on goal

27:17

Goals and assists

2. Malý (Vizváry), 10. Šmíd, 23. Wróbel (Kábrt), 40. Taufer (Bečka, Kovařík), 42. Tomšík – 4. Danielčák (Bartakovics, Hrivnák), 36. Danielčák (Bartakovics), 37. Sakal (Mešár, Tulaev), 43. Danielčák (Siakeľ, Bartakovics), 45. Sakal (Siakeľ, Danielčák), rozh. náj. Šulík

Referees

Michal Laczko, Patrick Aerni

Official game sheet

Czechia U20

Halouzka – Černý, Bečka (C), Bláha (A), Wróbel, Kovařík, Krejčí, Matoušek, Macek, Šmíd, Taufer, Malý, Tomšík, Kábrt, Pavlík, Jelen, Dostál, Korbel, Lhota (A), Chovanec, Hálek, Vizváry

Slovakia U20

Borovský – Mešár, Knapík, Danielčák, Šulík, Král, Sakal (A), Gugh, Brejčák, Tulaev, Šarluška, Siakeľ (A), Balát, Mišák, Šatka, Badalov, Hrivnák (C), Šamaj, Gríger, Dvořák, Lipták, Bartakovics, Rábek

COACHES´ REACTIONS

Karel Manhart (CZE): „I think we played a good game, but unfortunately, it slipped away from us seven seconds before the end. We made two mistakes there. We were leading by two goals, and letting the opponent equalize is disgraceful. We probably didn't have the strength in overtime to score the winning goal. The Slovaks were better in the shootout."

Branislav Štefan (SVK): „„An incredible game, two excellent teams clashed, tactically well-equipped. I'm incredibly proud of the guys, they left their hearts out there. The Czech team has significant quality in their individuals, but we united as a team with heart, and that's how we won. It's thanks to that we're advancing to the finals. The decisive factor was that we wanted it more. We set clear tactical instructions that the guys followed, and that neutralized the best players from the Czech Republic."