Beijing, February 12 (Xinhua) -- In the Beijing Winter Olympics men's ice hockey Group A match on the 12th, the Chinese team rose to catch up with the 0:3 trail and finally lost 2:3 to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic runner-up Germany, and forward Fu Shuai scored the first goal in the history of Chinese men's ice in the history of the Winter Olympics in the second quarter.
On February 12, players from China and Germany competed in the men's ice hockey group stage of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Photo by Ang Lee, Xinhua News Agency
In the previous first round of the group stage, both teams suffered defeats. Germany lost 1-5 to championship favourites Canada, while China lost 0-8 to the United States. According to the latest world rankings, the Chinese team ranks 32nd, while the German team ranks fifth, and there are 10 veterans who have played in the last Winter Olympics, and there is a big gap between the strength of the two teams.
After the start of the first quarter, the two sides quickly entered the form, and China goalkeeper Jeremy Smith performed well, blocking the opponent's multiple attacks. In the 10th minute, the German team scored the first goal, and the referee judged by looking back that the German players rushed to the goal first, and the goal was invalid. Near the 14th minute, Germany's Marcel Brandt single-handedly broke through the Chinese team's multi-person defense, and after the high-quality pick was blocked by the goalkeeper, he scored a supplementary shot. With three minutes left in the first quarter, Germany's Kobinian Holzer scored from a distance in front of the blue line in the attacking zone and went down to the next city.
On February 12, players from China and Germany competed in the men's ice hockey group stage of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Xiao
Germany had another win after the start of the second quarter, with Dominic Cajon's goal helping the team extend the lead to 3-0. In the face of the unfavorable situation, the Chinese team did not give up and looked for opportunities through the efforts of both offensive and defensive ends. In the final minute of the second quarter, Chinese striker Fu Shuai scored from close range and scored the first goal in the history of the Chinese men's ice hockey Winter Olympics.
In the final quarter, the Chinese team, which saw the hope of equalizing, stepped up the offensive, and the German team made some mistakes on the defensive end. In the middle of the quarter, China's Wang Taylor scored a powerful shot into the opposing goal, and the Chinese team chased the score to 2:3.
In the last minute of the game, the Chinese team withdrew the goalkeeper to make a final attempt, but several threatening shots did not translate into goals, and finally lost 2:3.
Chinese goalkeeper Jeremy Smith defends against Germany in the men's hockey group stage of the Beijing Winter Olympics on Feb. 12. Photo by Ang Lee, Xinhua News Agency
Fu Shuai, who scored a historic goal for the Chinese team, said after the game: "It is a wonderful feeling to be a player who scored the first goal of the Chinese Men's Ice Olympics. The goal came from the whole team working on the whole process and we are all working hard for China. This is probably the greatest achievement of my career. ”
German coach Thurdholm Tony was also surprised by the performance of the Chinese team. He said: "The first game of the Chinese team seemed to be a little tense, and this game they obviously adapted to the atmosphere of the Winter Olympics, in the first half of the situation was passive, the second half began to gradually find their own rhythm. ”
Chinese men's ice hockey team player Ye Jinguang (right) interacts with head coach Zanata Ivano during pre-match training on Feb. 2. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ziheng
China coach Zanata Ivano said after the game: "From day one, I told my players that you are going to fight to win the respect of the world, and tonight we did it. ”
The Chinese team will usher in the final match of the group stage of the Winter Olympics on the 13th, against the world's number one Canadian team.
Editors: Shu Wen, Yu Sihui, Cao Yibo, Li Yuxi (Intern)