The German hockey players beat the Slovaks supported by thousands of fans at the start of the championship. The brightest moments / Article

Slovaks can count on more support from their fans because the Czech city of Ostrava is close to the border with Slovakia. On the other hand, in the world ranking, Germany is higher than its rivals, and in addition, it won silver medals in the world championship last year.

The German national team was close to scoring a goal at the beginning of the game, but the Slovaks successfully stopped the puck at the goal line, and the goalkeeper Stanislav Škorvanek was helped by the goal post. In the middle of the first third, the Slovaks did not take advantage of their opportunities, and at the end of the first third, the German goalpost already saved them from conceding a goal.

The result is revealed by the German national team

Dominik Cahun converted the big numerical majority in the middle of the second third and put Germany in the lead. The Slovakian coach disputed the correctness of scoring the goal, but the referees did not change their minds after reviewing the video, which cost the Slovaks another two-minute suspension.

Germany doubles the lead

Jonas Müller converted another goal less than three minutes later to give Germany a 2-0 lead.

The Slovaks score their first goal

The Slovaks resolutely tried to fight back, and Mareks Hrivíks ended the impressive pressure with an accurate shot, reducing the score difference.

The Slovak national team restores the draw

The Slovakian team, inspired by the loud stands, continued to attack furiously and Martin Fehervari scored a 2-2 draw in the penultimate minute before the break.

Germany takes the lead again with the third goal

However, passion in the attack and sloppiness in their zone cost the Slovaks a goal loss – Lukaša Kalble’s long shot at the end of the second period restored a minimal lead for Germany.

The German national team restores the two-goal lead

The Germans also had a more successful start to the last third, with Mark Michaelis sending the rebound of Škorvanek into the goal. Hrivíks seemingly recovered one goal in the majority, but Germany, with the coach’s challenge, successfully disputed the scoring of the goal, as the Slovaks momentarily let the puck out of the zone during the attack.

The Slovaks score their third goal

It became more and more difficult for the Germans to keep the pressure of the opponents, and the third goal for Slovakia was scored by Libor Hudaček on a raid along the end line.

Slovakia’s chances of a draw were complicated by Leonhard Federl, who sent the puck into an empty corner of the goal in a rare German attack.

The sixth puck flew into the empty goal of the Slovakia national team, when Škorvanek had been replaced by a field player.

Matus Sukel sent the puck into the German goal 15 seconds before the final whistle, but it did not affect the outcome of the match.

Latvian hockey players’ first game in the eight-team subgroup B will be on Saturday against the Polish national team.

In the first game of the second group in Prague, the Swiss national team beat the Norwegian national team 5:2. Later on Friday, the home team, the Czechs, will meet with the Finnish national team.

Each group will play a round-robin tournament until May 21, after which the four strongest teams from both groups will enter the quarterfinals. The medal winners of the championship will be announced at the finals in Prague on May 26.