Ice hockey: ZSC and Freiburg are in the cup semifinals

When SC Langenthal knocked EVZ from the cup (2: 1) five weeks ago, sporting director Kevin Schläpfer was so enthusiastic that he spontaneously bought pizza for the entire team. “Usually the underdog’s chance is that he can play at home and let the fans carry him around. But we didn’t. And that’s why I can’t rate our performance high enough, ”the 51-year-old said.

While no spectators are allowed against NL leader ZSC, Oberaargau are full of confidence before the match. “Despite the lack of atmosphere and läär played – the SCL will fight and win as usual,” says a banner above the players’ bench. And Schläpfer himself says: “We hit the train. Then we can also beat the sheet ». But then the SCL is already behind after 162 seconds.

Chris Baltisberger is played from behind the goal by Garrett Roe. And catch SCL goalkeeper Andri Henauer, who plays for injured regular goalkeeper Pascal Caminada.

After ten minutes, the home team got into a power play after Fredrik Pettersson fouled Serge Weber but let it pass unused. Amaro: 29 seconds after the Lions are back full, Denis Hollenstein scores 2-0. And as if that weren’t enough, Luca Capaul, who plays for the first time this season after breaking his collarbone, makes it 3-0 before the first break.

Rikard Grönborg’s team leaves nothing to be desired. Langenthal has the chance to reduce the game to 1: 3. Captain Stefan Tschannen and Vincenzo Küng run alone towards SAC goalkeeper Ludovic Waeber, but fail.

The lowest point? After 35 minutes, goalkeeper Henauer collides with ZSC defender Phil Baltisberger and is hit in the head by his skate.

Mika Henauer, SCB’s 18-year-old brother, does not return to the ice in the last third. Suspected concussion! Now Oberaargau, who lose for the first time in nine (!) Wins in a row, also have a problem with the goalkeeper. Number 3, Nick Imhof, has conceded five more goals. Schläpfer sits in the stands in dismay.

The best – C. Baltisberger (SAC): Continue to collect points. This time 3.

The plum – Vincenzo Küng (SCL): Wrong 1: 3 in the middle of the game.

The objectives: 3. C. Baltisberger (Roe) 0: 1. 13. Hollenstein (C. Baltisberger, Suter) 0: 2. 19. (18:00) Capaul (Pettersson) 0: 3. 44. Roe (Andrighetto) 0: 4 48. Schäppi (Prassl, P. Baltisberger) 0: 5. 49. Andrighetto (Roe, C. Baltisberger) 0: 6. 58. Berni (Suter / SH!) 0: 7. 59. Geering (Hollenstein, P. Baltisberger) 0: 8.

The claim is not cheeky: Ambri has only the chance to crown the last season in the incomparable Valascia with a title in the Cup. To do this, the Freiburg hurdle must first be eliminated in this quarter-final.

Neither side have made it through the quarter-finals since the restart of the 2014/15 Cup. In this farewell season of this single-elimination competition, at least one of the teams can refine these stats a bit. After all: Ambri can already look back on a title in club history (1962).

The Biancoblù starts well. Zwerger has the first dangerous chance of the match (5th minute), Dal Pian hits the post from the slot (12th). The duel isn’t particularly physical. Above all, the inhabitants of Friborg keep themselves elegantly. There may be a plan behind this, knowing that Ambris goalkeeper Julius Nättinen has scored seven of his twelve league goals in power play.

The Leventines get their first power play opportunity just before the second break, but remain unsuccessful. I’m already 0-2 behind. After both shots, the referees turn to video studies. When Desharnais 1-0, they check if he was preceded by a high stick. On DiDomenico’s 2-0 one could suspect a hand change from Mottet behind the goal. Television images do not break it down.

The delirium of coach Luca Cereda is the strongest emotion that Ambri has ever seen. The Biancoblù are hardly ever dangerous for the Friborg people. Their offensive actions are rarely compelling and covered up in corners, which is unusual for otherwise direct and passionate Leventines. Connection success comes too late.

The best – David Desharnais (Freiburg). Thinker and pilot of the game, he gets a lot of ice age.

The plum – Julius Nättinen (Ambri). For once the goalgetter remains pale, sometimes you see almost no action on his part.

The objectives: 16. Desharnais (PP / Sprunger, DiDomenico) 0: 1. 31. DiDomenico 0: 2. 60. Zwerger (Nättinen, Fora) 1: 2.