A not so cold shower – Liechtenstein
KOCENI – Liechtenstein national floorball team lost their opening game of the World Cup qualifier in Koceni (LET) by 1:13 against Norway. Only in the final third were things clear against the strongest opponents in the group.
Liechtenstein’s national floorball team has played against Norway a few times in the past. The encounters between the Scandinavian floorball superpower – the Norwegians finished sixth at the last World Cup last December – and the “dwarf” from Liechtenstein usually ended somewhere between 20:0 and 25:0. And the people of Liechtenstein could be happy if they got the ball from time to time. Not to mention scoring chances.
Quite different now in the opening game this year. Even if the final result of 1:13 looks “brutal” – the Liechtensteiners conceded many goals because they were able to create chances themselves on the offensive, but ran into counterattacks. It was 4-0 after the first period, but the young Norwegian team needed two manpower situations for the four goals. And even if it sounds strange: The FL team received a few compliments on their performance after the end of the game.
As I said, 1:13 sounds harsh – there are often more goals scored in floorball than in ice hockey, for example. For example, France lost 1:20 against world champion Sweden. What you also have to say: The fact that the games in this tournament only last three times 15 instead of 20 minutes also helps the supposed underdogs.
Awarded as the best player: Mario Neff scored Liechtenstein’s only goal. (Photo: ZVG)
Awarded as the best player: Mario Neff scored Liechtenstein’s only goal. (Photo: ZVG)
Only the first penalty used
The celebrated man in Liechtenstein’s selection was Mario Neff, who was reduced to 1:5 in the 27th minute with a majority. A little later, Marco Kipfer’s team competed again in the power play. But instead of the second goal, it conceded a goal. Nevertheless, the Liechtensteiners lost the best third of the game only 1:3, because Joachim Terjesen scored the 7:1 again shortly after the penalty expired.
Only in the final third did Norway’s attacking game run more smoothly, while Liechtenstein’s legs slowly got heavier. So the Scandinavians still turned the score to 13:1. “Nevertheless,” said Coach Kipfer after the game, “that was a performance we can build on.” On Thursday, Poland (3:00 p.m.) is also a right caliber – the Poles finished eleventh at the last World Cup – but not quite as good as Norway.