Recap

Despite a great match from Swiss goalkeeper Maurus Tillema and the inspired Phileas Storck, Switzerland couldn’t secure the first points against the tournament hosts.

The first quarter set the stage for an intense showdown. Florian Flückiger opened the scoring for Switzerland with a precise shot in a man-up situation, followed swiftly by Storck’s impressive long-distance shot. However, Slovenia showed their resilience, leveling the score with two quick goals. Storck, undeterred, reclaimed the lead for Switzerland with two more stunning long-range strikes from position 2, putting his team ahead 4-2.

In the second quarter, Todor Ilic of Switzerland managed to convert on an extra-man opportunity from the left-wing position, keeping Switzerland within striking distance. But Slovenia began to assert control, tallying six goals by the end of the third quarter, leaving Switzerland trailing 6-9, with Storck providing the lone response with another remarkable long-distance shot.

Switzerland mounted a spirited comeback in the fourth quarter as the game entered its decisive phase. Goals from Ilic, courtesy of a penalty shot, and Florian Flückiger, who capitalized on an opponent exclusion, narrowed the deficit to 8-9. However, Slovenia responded with a crucial goal in a man-up situation, extending their lead to 8-10. Switzerland rallied again, with Storck netting a goal from the left post on a well-executed man-up play, bringing the score to 9-10. In the dying moments of the game, Switzerland had an opportunity to capitalize on an extra-man situation but couldn’t convert, ultimately falling short.

Reflecting on the tough loss, Switzerland’s head coach, Benjamin Redder, commented to wball.ch: “It’s a tough loss! Our goalkeeper, Maurus Tillema, kept us in the game, and we fought until the last second. We were very punished by small defensive mistakes, and we didn’t show enough pressure on our offensive conclusions.”