The Slovakian men’s hockey team was the first to reach the semi-finals of the Beijing Olympics after beating the group that won the regular season 3-2 in the quarter-finals.
The Americans, who stood with 14 students, started at an impressive pace after closing their quartet with impeccable balance, but the challenger survived initial difficulties and took the lead through 17-year-old Juraj Slavkovsky. It was young Turku Finn’s fifth goal in the tournament, which took him to the top. Overseas remained in full swing before the first half.
The Slovaks, who bid farewell to the former Olympic silver medalists on Tuesday, did not return in the 29th minute, and Sam Huntings took advantage.
The European team equalized 43.7 seconds before the end of the match with Marek Hrivik. Despite having a lot in overtime, there was no goal and Peter Celerik was set in the lead.
The Slovak national team will meet the winner of the Swedish-Canadian fencing in the semi-finals on Friday.
Men’s quarter-final rounds
Slovakia – USA 3-2 (1-1, 0-1, 1-0, 1-0) after penalties
later
Russian Olympic Committee – Denmark 7.00
Finland and Switzerland 9.40.40
Sweden and Canada at 2:30 pm
woman
Bronze match: Finland – Switzerland 12.30
Final: Canada-USA, Thursday 5.10.2007
Opening image: MTI/EPA/Jerome Favre
