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26th June 2026 - Igor Mainka, foto: Michal Struž

Shock in Ostrava! Finland Upsets Slovakia to Reach Semifinals

Although Slovakia made a dream start to the game and built a 2–0 lead, their hopes of winning a medal came to an end in the quarterfinals. Finland fought back to turn the game around, but their lead did not last. Late in the third period, they were awarded a power play, and Sami Pietsalo converted the four-on-three advantage with a shot from the right faceoff circle. Finland has advanced to the semifinals for only the second time in its history.

Ostravar Aréna

4-5 (OT)
(2:1, 1:2, 1:1 – 0:1)

Slovakia - Finland

Penalties
2:4
PPG
3:1
SHG
0:0
Shots on goal
30:20
Statistics

Goals and assists

2. Revaj (Lipiansky, Klema), 4. Martinusík (Mráz, Benko), 29. Straka (Korbáš, Hryzák), 41. Hryzák (Lopušan, Straka) – 14. Pietsalo (Marjeta, A. Herpin), 20. Jokirinne, 23. Kylmäniemi (Mourujärvi, Wolin), 34. Mourujärvi (Kylmäniemi, Viitanen), 46. Pietsalo (Viitanen, Jokirinne)

Referees

Martin Černý, Michal Záhora

Spectators

250

Slovakia

Surák - Dubeň, I. Gajdoš, Kozák, Lopušan, Mikula, Revaj, Salajka, Stümpel, Šulik - Balát, Benko, Hryzák, Klema, Korbáš, Lipiansky, Martinusík, Mráz, Olejník, Piják, Pisarovič, Straka, Šatka

Finland

Kuusamo - Keskinen, Liedes, Marjeta, Meri, Tapper, Vanttaja, Viitanen, Wolin - A. Herpin, Hyvönen, Jeskanen, Jokirinne, Kangas, Koskela, Koskinen, Kylmäniemi, Kärkkäinen, Mourujärvi, Mäenalanen, Painilainen, Pietsalo, Sirkkala

COACHES´ REACTIONS

Antti Koskela (FIN): "I think we played our best game, as we had planned. The key moment of the game, in my opinion, was actually before the game itself. We have had this plan in place for many months, and for us this was the game where we decided it really matters. The first period was good, the second was better, and the third was the best, and then our goal scorer scored the goal. For the semifinal, we will prepare by having a small celebration for about 30 minutes, then lunch, and after that we will be ready for the next day."

Photogallery

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