Japan won the match on the stands, but had a harder time with the match on the court. Slovakia had control over the match which ended 9-4 (3-1, 2-2, 4-1) in favour of the Slovaks.
Japan had a set game plan. Lay low and defend and then score breakaway goals on a game controlling Slovakia. Japan got the start they were hoping for when Naoki Matsuba scored the first goal, assisted by the goalkeeper Kenta Higuchi in the middle of the first period.
However, the Slovaks cranked up the pace and it got tougher and tougher for the Japanese team to hold on to the lead. Three Slovak goals before the end of first period, another two in the second, before Japan momentarily fought back. Ichiro Ueda took a shot and Naoki Matsuba was, yet again, there to score 5-2 to the delight of the Japanese fans. The goal gave the Japanese team energy and they scored 5-3, in addition to several great scoring opportunities which shook up the Slovak team before the end of the period.
The Slovak team got themselves together in the third period and regained control of the match. Patrik Pelegrin, Martin Kubovic, Lukas Rezanina and Jan Kominek made in the end sure Slovakia easily won 9-4.
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