Genève-Servette and Lukko Rauma settled for a 2-2 draw on Tuesday at the Vernets in the first leg of the Champions Hockey League semi-final. In an exciting match. The return match, scheduled for January 16, promises a lot in Finland.
The fourth Swiss team to reach this stage of the competition (after Davos, Fribourg and Zug), GSHC got off to a flying start in this first leg of the semi-finals. The opponent is not unknown, the two teams faced each other in Finland in October during the group stage. Rauma won 3-2 after a disastrous start for the Eagles (trailing 3-0 after 20 minutes).
High-level encounter
Riding the momentum of 4 consecutive victories in the championship, GSHC approaches this first match with a slight advantage over their opponent, also considering that the Genevans seem capable of transcending themselves during European matches and it is not uncommon for players who are less prominent in the championship to shine in Europe.
The first goal of the match, scored in the 9th minute, illustrates these points as it is Marco Miranda, with only 2 goals in the championship, who opens the scoring in a very nice way. A first goal that quickly increases the intensity of the match, both physically and technically. The 4371 Geneva spectators, who are surely discovering Lukko Rauma for the first time, are not disappointed: we are indeed in the Champions League semi-final, and Geneva leads 1-0 after two minutes with Olkinuora also doing very well in the Geneva goal.
Sing for a first
Clearly frustrated by the course of the match, the Finns, currently 6th in their domestic championship, will accelerate at the beginning of the second period and offer a physical challenge that is unusual in Switzerland. A work that pays off, Rauma equalizes after 24’34” of play and takes the lead two minutes later. These two goals do not tarnish the game, the Finns then dominate their opponent. But the Genevans will not doubt for long. In the 30th minute, it is the young Giancarlo Chanton who equalizes for GSHC. The defender thus scores his very first goal in a Geneva jersey. In the absence of thrilling crowds, Europe allows for the discovery of new goal scorers.
The intensity will not decrease, but the chances are less clear on both sides. It is therefore with a score of 2-2 that the teams return to the dressing rooms after 40 minutes.
Breathless third period
The third period starts once again at a frantic pace with a slight Finnish domination at the start of the period. But a Geneva powerplay completely reversed the trend in the 46th minute. Even if the Genevans do not capitalize on this opportunity, the momentum and the chances clearly turn in favor of Servette. Several times, Jan Cadieux’s team comes close to scoring this crucial third goal, but the Grenats lack efficiency at the crucial moment.
The final result remains at 2-2 and the situation is clear, the team that wins the return match will reach the final.
The return match is already scheduled and will be decisive (with the aggregate score being decisive). It will take place on Tuesday, January 16, in Rauma. In the other first leg of the semi-final, the Swedish team Skellefteåse prevailed 4-2 against the Czechs of Vitkovice.
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