Image: GEPA pictures/ Daniel Goetzhaber (GEPA pictures)
The ÖEHV selection lost in Tampere in front of 11,785 fans to the highly favored World Cup hosts Finland only 1:3 (1:2.0:0.0:1) and can go into the decisive game for relegation with their heads held high.
In the final match against Hungary on Monday (7.20 p.m. / live ORF Sport +), the Austrians need a win to qualify for the 2024 World Cup in the Czech Republic. However, team boss Roger Bader’s squad also needs a bit of support from Germany. Should Hungary create a surprise against the Germans on Sunday (3.20 p.m.) and win after 60 minutes, the red-white-red selection would be relegated before the last game.
Bader rested the 36-year-old captain Thomas Raffl against Finland, but had defender talent David Reinbacher available again. The 18-year-old suffered a knee injury in the second game against Sweden and is now making his comeback with a splint.
In goal, David Madlener was preferred for the first time at this tournament. The Vorarlberger made a strong game, but had to get the first shot out of the box. The Austrians missed Kasperi Kapanen on the blue line, the St. Louis Blues NHL striker shoved the puck into the Kreuzeck after 79 seconds to take the lead. But the underdog fought back. Marco Rossi conquered the target in the middle third and sent Dominic Zwerger, who scored to make it 1-1 (5th). Rossi thus provided the assist for five of his team’s seven goals.
As expected, Finland were the better team and took the lead again with a superb goal from Antti Suomela (8′). With consistent and strong defensive work, the Austrians just kept the result against the defending champion, in the middle third the statistics even showed a small plus with 7:6 shots on goal. Finland’s ‘lions’ increased the pressure in the final period, but it was only in the penultimate minute that a brilliant but controversial goal from Ahti Oksanen made everything clear. A coach’s challenge, initiated by team boss assistant Reinhard Divis, was unsuccessful after video studies, although the puck seemed to have been outside the attacking third.
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