Ice Hockey World Championship

Norway vs Austria – LIVE from 16:20

Austria's next heroic deed at an already memorable A-World Cup!

(Bild: AP/Associated Press)

The red-white-red heroic saga at the Ice Hockey A-World Championship in Prague has reached its next chapter: unleashed Austrians without captain Thomas Raffl have laid the foundation for victory against Norway with three goals in the second period, securing a 4:1 win ahead of schedule! Tuesday will decide whether the ÖEHV team can pull off the big upset and advance to the quarter-finals.

There was a home game atmosphere for Austria in the penultimate group game in the Prague Arena - that was clear even before the start of the game, when Manuel Ganahl & Co. were greeted with frenetic applause and chants as they entered the arena and started off like a shot from a pistol: In the first four minutes, the ÖEHV team scored 4:0 goals, Norway's goalkeeper Haukemann had to make a big save, especially when Strong and Thaler scored.

Kickert the rock in the surf
Norway then got into a better rhythm and an open exchange of blows developed with a very attentive David Kickert: The ÖEHV keeper was able to distinguish himself on the shots by Hansen and Steen and was also the rock in the surf in his team's first short-handed game: Salsten found his master in Kickert when finishing from close range. Austria, on the other hand, were unable to make the most of their two superior numbers in the first period.

Schneider with ninth A-World Championship goal
After a goalless first period, Salsten had the first shot after the restart - Kickert cleared safely (22'), at the other end Rossi's shot was easy prey for Haukeland (25'). Scoring chances were few and far between at this stage, with neither team taking any unnecessary risks. Before Johannesen brought down Paul Huber and was sent off for two minutes (27). In the third red-white-red powerplay, it then hit the Norwegian net: Schneider slammed the puck into the net after a pass from Heinrich and Rossi to make it 1:0 (29'), his ninth A-World Cup goal.

Here you can see Austria's goal for 1:0!

Just 40 seconds later it was already 2:0: Zwerger's slightly deflected shot landed between Haukeland's legs in the goal. Norway reacted in shock, Austria acted mercilessly - and increased the score to 3:0 in minute 34: With a penalty indicated, Austria trapped the Scandinavians in the attacking third with six men for what felt like an eternity, firing shot after shot on goal. In the end, it was Schneider who finished with a powerful finish after an assist from Rossi - three goals within 5:39 minutes, red-white-red in a frenzy!

Here you can see Austria's goal to make it 2:0!

Here you can see Austria's goal to make it 3:0!

Austria find better chances on the counter-attack
The fans in the stands enthusiastically chanted "Austria again and again", but Norway didn't give up: But Kickert also defused Brandsegg-Nygard's finish (40'). At the start of the final period, Austria first survived a 3-on-5 short-handed game before Mario Huber, who had come from the penalty box, won the puck and stormed solo towards Haukeland, but unfortunately failed (42'). Norway attacked with the courage of desperation - but Austria had the better chances on the counter-attack, hitting the bar through Strong (51.).

While the outstanding Kickert drove his opponents to despair, Engebraten only managed to make it 3:1 (54'). When Norway took the goalie off the ice three minutes before the end, Mario Huber made it 4:1 after a pass from Zwerger - the decision! In the end, in front of 16,565 fans in the Prague Arena, it was the first victory over the "Norwegians" at an A-World Championship since 1999 - in other words, in 25 years! Austria's next heroic deed at an already memorable A-World Cup!

(Bild: zVg)

(Bild: zVg)

Austria can hope for more as fourth in Group A
After the 4:1 win over Norway, it is also clear that Austria have secured their place in Group A ahead of time, but as the current fourth-placed team in Group A, they can even hope for more. Austria and Finland are currently on seven points each in Group A, and the win in the head-to-head puts the ÖHEV team ahead of the reigning Olympic champions. The starting position is clear: Austria face bottom-placed Great Britain in their final game on Tuesday, while rivals Finland have two matches left - against Denmark on Monday and Switzerland on Tuesday.

If the Scandinavians pick up more points in these two matches than Austria against Great Britain, the Finns will advance to the quarter-finals. Otherwise, the fairytale will continue for the Bader team, with Austria sensationally advancing to Thursday's last eight.

The result:
Austria - Norway 4:1 (0:0, 3:0, 1:1)

Goals: 1:0 (29.) Schneider, 2:0 (29.) Zwerger, 3:0 (34.) Schneider, 3:1 (54.) Engebraten, 4:1 (58.) M. Huber