He missed the equaliser: Manuel Melder.
Switzerland plays for World Cup bronze
Switzerland loses 1:3 (1:2) in the semi-final against Denmark after a hard fight at the 5th IWAS Powerchair Hockey World Championships in Sursee. The selection of national coach Daniel Pulver will meet Finland in the bronze medal match on Sunday (2.15 pm, Stadthalle). The Netherlands and Denmark will face each other in the World Cup final (4.30 p.m.).
The Swiss national powerchair hockey team has the opportunity to win a medal at a world championship for the first time in the association’s history on Sunday. At the home World Championships in Sursee, the Swiss will face Finland in the third-place match. The Swiss team narrowly missed out on a place in the final in front of 700 spectators. In a match characterised by tactics and discipline, the Swiss were beaten 1:3 (1:2) by Denmark after stubborn resistance.
The runners-up in the 2018 World Cup defeated Pulver and assistant coach Raphaël Mathis’ team with a tactical masterstroke. The physically stronger Danes had a solution ready for every situation. Chief strategist Alexander Pedersen’s presence on the field and his ideas made the Swiss team look tough. “We beat an expectedly strong opponent with our collective,” said the two-time scorer.
The key scene took place in the 35th minute when the score was 1-2. After the only gross defensive mistake by the Danes, Manuel Melder stood alone in front of the goal. Instead of accepting the gift, the Iron Cats Zurich player missed the equaliser. “I didn’t hit the ball. I was probably surprised that the Danes produced such an errant pass,” said the 20-year-old Zurich player. To add: “That was the crux of the game.” He said it was now a matter of getting a grip on the emotions. Manuel Melder was able to take some positives from the defeat against Denmark: “We saw that we can keep up against a strong nation.”
National coach Daniel Pulver has little time to cheer up his disappointed charges and get them in the mood for the important World Cup bronze medal match. “I told the players in the dressing room: you have only lost one game! We’ll get up and do everything we can against Finland so that we’ll be standing with a bronze medal at the end of the World Cup.”
Netherlands celebrate final and birthday party
The World Cup semi-final between the Netherlands and Finland was a one-sided affair. The multiple world champions beat the Finns in a commanding 11:3 (3:1) victory. Led by jubilarian Dennis Van den Boomen – who celebrated his 34th birthday with two goals and four assists – the powerchair hockey artists of the Kingdom combined through the Finnish defence lines time and again.
Sursee (Sz). 5th IWAS Powerchair Hockey World Championships. Semi-finals: Netherlands – Finland 11:3 (3:1). Switzerland – Denmark 1:3 (1:2).
Intermediate round: Italy – Spain 12:2 (5:1). Belgium – Germany 3:13 (2:7).
Placing match 9th/10th: Canada – Australia 8:2 (1:0).
The programme for Sunday (14th August). Match for 7th place: Spain – Belgium (9.45). – Match for 5th place: Italy – Germany (12.00). – Match for 3rd place: Switzerland – Finland (14.15). – Final: Netherlands – Denmark (16.30). – Award ceremony and closing ceremony (18.45).
Switzerland – Denmark 1:3 (1:2)
Stadthalle. – 700 spectators. – Referee Laakso (Fi)/Vanhove (Bel)/Matijasevic (Slo). – Goals: 16. Berenth (Pedersen) 0:1. 16. Zenhäusern (Schäublin) 1:1. 18. Pedersen 1:2. 29. Pedersen 1:3.
Switzerland: Bachmann; Inhelder, Schäublin, Zenhäusern, Melder; Braillard.
Netherlands – Finland 11:3 (3:1)
Stadthalle. – 200 spectators. – Referees Stormark (Dä)/Käch (Sz)/Rosche (Sz). – Goals: 1. Heere (Van den Boomen) 1:0. 4. Van den Boomen (Heere) 2:0. 9. Van den Boomen 3:0. 18. Isometsä 3:1. 23. Van der Heijden 4:1. 25. Heere (Van den Boomen) 5:1. 26. Van der Heijden 6:1. 29. Van der Heijden (Van den Boomen) 7:1. 29. Heere (Van den Boomen) 8:1. 35. Heere (Schell) 9:1. 35. Schell (Feller) 10:1. 37. Vuorinen (Palonen) 10:2. 40. Schell (Feller) 11:2. 40. Palonen 11:3.
Italy – Spain 12:2 (5:1)
Stadthalle. – 100 spectators. – Referees Matijasevic (Slo)/Rosche (Sz)/Käch (Sz). – Goals: 2. Ramina 1:0. 2. Comino 2:0. 6. Comino 3:0. 10. Masoli 4:0. 18. Rodriguez 4:1. 20. Masoli 5:1. 22. Jignea 6:1. 25. Rodriguez 6:2. 25. Granzotto 7:2. 27. Granzotto 8:2. 30. Sciuva 9:2. 36. Granzotto 10:2. 37. Masoli 11:2. 39. Granzotto 12:2.
Belgium – Germany 3:13 (2:7)
Stadthalle. – 100 spectators. – Referees Virtanen (Fi)/Iotti (It)/Imparato (It). – Goals: 7. Decrock 1:0. 7. Decrock 2:0. 7. Treidy 2:1. 10. Huber 2:2. 11. Huber 2:3. 13. Huber 2:4. 14. Treidy 2:5. 16. Treidy 2:6. 17. Treidy 2:7. 26. Huber 2:8. 27. Huber 2:9. 30. Huber 2:10. 30. Van Nerum 3:10. 31. Busel 3:11. 31. Huber 3:12. 39. Huber 3:13.
For 9th place: Canada – Australia 8:2 (1:0)
Stadthalle. – 20 spectators. – Ref Siiki (Fi)/Menz (De)/Imparato (It). – Goals: 15. Ogho 1:0. 21. Ogho 2:0. 28. Webb 2:1. 30. Ogho 3:1. 30. Raunak 4:1. 31. Raunak 5:1. 32. Webb 5:2. 36. Raunak 6:2. 39. Ogho 7:2. 40. Raunak 8:2.