The Latvian national hockey team will take its place in the quarterfinals at the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday in the match against Denmark.
The Delfi portal offers live match text.
Beijing Olympics, hockey: Latvia – Denmark
Punnenov’s Rusela swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors’ defense were able to clear the ball. Smirnov pushed in front of the gate with Lauridsen.
Daugaviņš was in the throw-in position with the second pass, and he made the Lady catch a good enough throw through the goal.
7:47 min. Change of goalkeepers in the Latvian national team. Jānis Kalniņš has gone to the reserve bench, but Ivars Punnenovs is in the goal instead. Something may have happened to his equipment, but it is not clear
After Smirnov’s shot, the puck from Lady came to Indras, who made another shot. A good opportunity to take the lead.
The tip was thrown at a high speed from the left side at a sharp angle. The lady had covered the nearby gate post.
In the sixth minute of the period, the Danes made their most dangerous shot in the game. One of the attackers, who threw hard, remained uncovered on the left side. Kalniņš moved the puck safely to the other corner of the field.
Rihards Bukarts tried to find Dzierkala or Batņa from behind. The Danes played very carefully in front of the goal.
The Latvian national team played a positional attack, but did not reach the throw. Dārziņš played for Freiberg, but the defenders hit the puck. A moment later, Daugaviņš also tried to find the team Zīli, who went ahead. Nicholas B. Jensen saved the team with his stick.
The first shot at the Latvian national team goal did not cause any great difficulties for Kalniņš. The Danish hockey players quickly overcame the middle zone when they attacked.
Mamčics kept the home side in the game with a magnificent save when Mamčics delivered an almost perfect free kick to the far post. Latvian hockey players continued to be active, and Daugaviņš also threatened the goal. Sebastian Dam, the goalkeeper of the Danish national team, took the puck.
The game has started, the Latvian national team wins in the first haul!
Danish hockey players have won two games at the Olympics. Harijs Vītoliņš said that the Danes give the whole field to the opponent and then play on sharp counter-attacks. Therefore, Latvia will have the opportunity to score a goal, it must be played carefully in defense.
Composition of the Danish national team for the game against Latvia
The goal of the Latvian national team in the match against Denmark will be guarded by Jānis Kalniņš, who will play his third game in the Olympic Games tournament. Mārtiņš Karsums, whose Covid-19 has ruined the Olympic Games, is still out of the application. Toms Andersons, Patriks Ozols, Nauris Sējējs and Kristers Gudļevskis will also not play.
The Danish national team will have to do without one of the leaders in defense – Jesper Jensen Abo. He suffered a shoulder injury in the game against Switzerland. https://www.delfi.lv/sports/news/ziemas-olimpiskas-speles/hokejs/danijas-izlasei-maca-pret-latviju-nevares-palidzet-viens-no-aizsardzibas-balstiem.d?id=54053310
The good news is that Lauris Dārziņš is ready to return to the Latvian national team. In a game against Finland, he arrived at the door of an unlocked Finnish reserve bench by force. In the game against Slovakia, there was a lack of captain of the team. https://www.delfi.lv/sports/news/ziemas-olimpiskas-speles/hokejs/lauris-darzins-piedalisies-spele-pret-daniju-vartos-stasies-kalnins.d?id=54052764
The Latvian national hockey team started the Olympic hockey tournament with three losses in the group tournament. The format of the Olympics allowed this, but now the matches will have a different value. In the first round of the playoffs, Latvia will meet with Denmark to fight for a place in the quarterfinals, where the team of the Russian Olympic Committee (KOK) is already waiting.
