Joy for Latvia, despair for Slovakia after penalties – 11.12.2015

Slovakia and Latvia played tight and tough match in Hakametsä Arena.

Slovakia scored the first goal at time 5:45. It looked as if Slovakia would take an easy victory leading with two goals, but Latvia´s Diana Isjomina narrowed the lead scoring at 21:59. It was like a wake up call for the whole team and Latvia started to play for a victory. In the end of the second period Latvia was given a penalty shot but Evelina Garbare moved the ball backwards, so no goal.

In the third period Slovakia stretched the lead with one goal scored by Michaela Sponiarova, but Latvia kept fighting. Inga Ametere narrowed the lead by scoring at 52:30. Only a minute before final whistle Eliza Berzina equalized the game to 3-3.

Slovakia had many scoring chances on overtime but they did not score. Slovakia had one shot hitting the post and they had over three minutes power play.

Penalty shootout was a thriller. First shooters by both of the teams scored, 5th shooters by both of the teams scored. The 12th shooters made the difference: Latvian´s Gunita Karklina scored and Lucia Kosturiakova missed the penalty shot.

- We did a good job. Maybe first period wasn´t that good but then we got motivation. I felt inside that this is our game. Maybe they were tired after yesterday´s game, Diana Isjomina commented after the game.

Latvia will play tomorrow against Germany for 5th place and Slovakia will play against Poland for 7th place.