It was to be determined whether Norway or Switzerland would be the team to qualify directly to the quarter-finals. It was a fight until the end in one of the best matches of the Championship so far. Switzerland won the match with a final score of 7-10 (1-1, 4-5, 2-3).

The conditions for the match were simple enough. Norway had to win to advance directly to the quarter-finals. And it started out well for the Norwegian team when Willy Fauskanger took the lead for Norway in the first period, which ended 1-1.  

The second period was very eventful and offered many great goals. Switzerland pushed ahead and scored three goals in a row to 1-4. Norway bounced back right away and scored 2-4, Switzerland increased their lead to 2-5 before Norway once again scored a goal. Everyone probably thought the period would end with a three-goal lead when Switzerland scored 3-6. But Willy Fauskanger was hungry for goals and scored twice in the last minute of the match and the period ended 5-6.

Norway took control of the game in the third period and chased after a shot to even the score. Their biggest opportunity came after about eight minutes during power play when Michael Zurcher, by himself, scored 5-7. In the end, Norway managed to take advantage of their power play and scored 6-7 shortly afterwards. When Norway took a chance and removed their goalkeeper with only four minutes left to play, Switzerland scored 6-8, but once again Norway bounced back when Geir Pedersen scored 7-8 only eight seconds later. That was all Norway could manage, and Switzerland scored twice in the last minute.

This means Switzerland are through to the quarter-finals.

Full match statistics here.

Photo: Rasmus Tynander.