Spengler Cup: Sparta – Davos 9:2. A clear win over the home team and progress directly to the six
The home fans just shook their heads in disbelief. They haven’t had to endure such humiliation for a long time. Sparta chewed them up and spat them out at her beloved Spengler Cup. Prague destroyed Davos 9:2 and won the second game in the group. That’s how they progressed to the half of the world’s oldest tournament. “A great match,” enjoyed defender Michal Kempný, who flashed four points for two goals and two assists.
They were two classes better from start to finish. They put the loaded Davos team to shame at the home tournament. Both the Spartans and the home team defeated Canada at the start of the Spengler Cup, and on Wednesday night they played it out against each other to see who would avoid the quarterfinals altogether and go straight to the semis. In addition, you get a free Thursday and extra rest.
“We played a very high-quality match. I’m glad that we took time off and we’re going straight to six,” smiled Michal Kempný, who already in the second minute of the duel kicked off the cannonade. In the end, she stopped at nine goals.
Davos coach Christian Wohlwend dug through all the lines during the match, but nothing helped. Matěj Stránský and the legendary Andres Ambühl took care of his team’s only two goals.
After Canada, even against Davos, Sparta was perceived as an outsider by betting bookmakers. “However, no one thought about whether we were the favorite or the outsider. No one was looking at who was playing in the opposing team. We just did our job. We didn’t underestimate anything. We wanted to advance to the semis, to make it through. Succeeded. We play as a team, everyone falls for shots, we don’t play for our own statistics. We play offensively and everyone benefits from it,” forward Ostap Safin reported.
“We probably won’t be out after this result,” added Kempný. He didn’t even score a goal in 15 Tipsport extra league matches, but scored twice against Davos. He added two assists on top.
Sparta in Switzerland suffered from several health problems, including numerous colds. For example, young runners Tomáš Tomek (20) and Martin Böhm (19), who have been playing for the junior team from Prague all season, got into the lineup. “I am very happy for them, they are young guys who have everything ahead of them. Such matches will help them a lot in the future,” Kempný knows.
So far, the Spartans are enjoying their stay in the mountain environment of Davos not only thanks to great results, but at the same time staying together outside the classic environment. “I enjoy every moment here. It’s like team building for us. The atmosphere is wonderful, it’s great here. We have a great team, I’m glad I can be here,” thanks Safin. “I’m glad the boys and I are together. We enjoy it very much. The tournament is going according to plan so far, I believe that the next match will be even better than this one,” hopes Kempný.
The Reds do not yet know the opponent for Friday’s duel. “We’ll take a day off, then we’ll get into it and hopefully achieve a similar result,” says Safin. Sparta should play in the six on Friday from 15:10.
Goals
Homemade: 01:23. Kempny, 10:55. Safin, 21:44. Kempny, 25:23. Buchtel, 32:11. Burner, 32:54. D. Vitouch, 44:40. Rape, 46:39. Dvořáček, 54:35. Burner
Guests: 19:53. Stranský, 59:39. Ambühl
Assemblies
Homemade: Kovář (Kořenář) – Jandus (A), Mikliš, Tomek, Kempný, Krutil, Moravčík, Böhm – Řepík (C), Sobotka (A), Přibyl – Tomášek, Horák, E. Thorell – Safin, D. Vitouch, Buchtele – Dvořáček, G. Thorell, Konečný – M. Vitouch.
Guests: Senn (Aeschlimann) – Fora (A), Dählbeck, Wellinger, Nygren (A), Paschoud, D. Egli, Minder – Rowe, Stránský, Corvi – Ambühl (C), Saarela, Michaelis – Rasmussen, Nordström, Bristedt – Schmutz, Nussbaumer, Ch. Egli-Prassl.
Referee
Lemelin (USA), Štolc (SVK) – Atlmann (SUI), Obwegeser (SUI)
Stadium
Valliant Arena, Davos (SUI)
Visit
7,080 spectators