Latvia again loses points in games with outsiders (VIDEO)

The match ended with the score 3:2 (0:1; 1:1; 2:1; 2:2; 3:2). Moreover, the winning goal was scored 1 second before the end of extra time.

The French national team, frankly speaking, is not enough hockey stars from the sky. However, it was the French player Stephane da Costa who opened the scoring in the World Cup match between Latvia and France. This happened in the 17th minute first period.

Before this, Oscar Batnya received a 5+20 penalty and was sent off the field for dangerously hitting an opponent with his stick.

Second period the teams skated without scoring goals.

And at the beginning third – Rodrigo Abols equalized the score. Let’s note the gorgeous pass from Ralf Freybergs.

Thanks to the excellent play of the goalkeepers, the teams managed without goals until Janis Jaks was hit in the head by his French colleague Hugo Gallet. After which he left following Batnya, receiving a fine of 5+20.

Robert Bouckaerts used the five-minute power play – 2:1. However, the French did not sit down and three minutes before the end of normal time they shot through Elvis Merzlikin. By the way, he was recognized as the best player in the Latvian team. And deservedly so – during the game he neutralized two one-on-one situations and stopped a total of 27 shots.

The teams skated sluggishly for 5 minutes extra time, until captain Kaspars Daugavins got down to business and, following a defender’s mistake, hammered the puck into the upper left corner of the French goal. This happened a second before the final siren.

As a result, the Latvian team loses a point. A day earlier there was a victory in extra time with another outsider – the Polish team. And another lost point.

If Latvia plays almost equally with the weakest teams in the tournament, isn’t the current team a weak team? We’ll find out soon.

And further. Oddly enough, for several hours Latvia topped the standings in Group B. However, the situation will change following the evening matches.

And here’s what Stefan da Costa’s first goal once morest Latvia looked like:

And this is the winning goal by Kaspars Daugavins in the 65th minute of the match:

And here is a review of the match with all the goals scored once morest Latvia and France: