In the last group game at the U18 World Cup in Ajoie, Switzerland, the DEB-Selection lost 0:3 against Sweden. After the defeat on Monday evening against Slovakia, it was already clear before today's game that the German U18 national team would have to go into the relegation round.
Today Nico Pertuch started from EV Landshut in the German goal, who had a lot to do from the start on his World Cup debut. The first power play by Sweden failed to produce a goal. Elias Pul and Norwin Panocha then had two chances to put Germany in the lead. But the Swedes then stepped up their game and had the game under control again. Despite this, the first break was goalless.
After the break, the German team initially barely got out of their own third. The pressure from the Swedes was very high and culminated in David Edstrom's greatest chance to date. Towards the middle of the second third, U18 national coach Alexander Dück's team was better in the game again. Raphael Jakolev had the best chance after the Germans forced the Swedes to lose a target in their own zone in the forecheck. As a result, Nico Pertuch was able to join in again and again Parareward him and keep his goal clean.
In the final third, both teams had chances. Sweden continued to have more possession. But the "Tre Kronors" were defeated by Nico Pertuch - until the 51st minute, when David Edstrom deflected Otto Stenberg's shot for the Swedes in the power play and scored the first goal of the afternoon. In the remaining minutes of the game, the German team found no suitable answer. On the contrary: with just under three and a half minutes to go, the Swedes again used a power play to make it 2-0 through Tom Willander. U18 national coach Alexander Dück put everything on the line again and pulled the goalkeeper. Gustaf Kangas put the final point on the scoresheet with the empty-net goal, making it 3-0.
The German team sold itself dearly against group winners Sweden today and can go into the coming games with the necessary self-confidence. After the group phase it has to be DEBteam will play the relegation round against Norway on Thursday morning in best-of-3 mode. The games will be shown live and free of charge on MagentaSport.