IIHF World Championship -2010: Semifinals Bashny.Net

Today in Cologne, Germany on «Lanxess-Arena» took the two semi-final match between Sweden - the Czech Republic and Germany - Russia.





Both fight really kept in suspense until the last seconds. His first match played the Swedes and Czechs. Recall that in qualifying the Czechs defeated the Swedes 2-1, but according to statistics, twice in the tournament to beat the same team is almost unreal. The Swedes started the game more powerful, but the Czechs simply perfectly protected and stopped the opponent off the board as soon as they were in their zone. However, the constant attacks led to violations of the rules of the Czechs. And in the ninth minute of the match, the Swedes sell the majority. Washer account Johan Harju (Johan Harju).









Czechs furiously rush to regain the puck, and the Swedes have to very hard times. Teams take turns violating rules remain in the minority. And on the 17th minute after a pass from Jaromir Jagr (Jaromir Jagr) by comparing Moyzhish Tomas (Tomas Mojzis). The first period and ended with the score 1-1.







The second period the team had very cautiously, afraid to miss the puck unnecessarily and without going "head" in the attack. In this game turned out to be quite unexpected puck Andreas Engqvist (Andreas Engqvist).









Second period and ended in favor of the Swedes. And in the third without thinking Scandinavians began simply "freeze" game. Czechs almost nothing created in twenty minutes. And two minutes before the end of the coach of the Czech Republic decides to replace the goalkeeper with the sixth field player. The advantage is obvious, but is not the puck into the goal. 15 seconds before the end of the period Johansson brings the puck, and almost misses the goal. And for seven seconds before the end Karel Rachunek (Karel Rachunek) equalizes!



Overtime nothing. And now it's time shootout. But here it became more successful Czechs! 2-1 and 3-2 in shootouts in the end! The Czech Republic in the final!









In the second semifinal of the championship owners opposed the favorite of the tournament - the Russian team. And as far as the Germans were charged out of the game. The first minutes of the match gave the impression that they are if you do not throw the puck - it just shoving it into the goal Kotenochkin. Double Russians played three against five, and the second time the Germans managed to throw the puck. Implementing the majority in the 16th minute of the first period Marcel Gotz (Marsel Goc). The first period and ended with a minimal advantage hosts ice.







In the second period the Russian team is almost closed the Germans in their zone, but the puck did not want to go through the gate. And Germany, meanwhile, gets very dangerous counterattacks. And if not Kotenochkin, perhaps by it would have been quite different. Still, the Russians managed to equalize. No sooner had the defenders react quickly to clear the transfer of Evgeni Malkin Gonchar. The latter, without hesitation, "snapped" in the corner naked. 1-1 and from time for another half hour.





The Russians have begun to put pressure on hard-and still keep the Germans in their zone. And those, in turn, successfully continue to quickly go to the counter, using the emerging free zones.









Still, the Russians put the squeeze on the German national team. He threw the puck is probably the best player in the team in this tournament - Pavel Datsyuk. It happened on the penultimate minute of the third period. 2-1 in the final of the Russian national team will play against the Czechs.







Photo: AP, Reuters, Getty Images