Swiss side stun Czech floorball heavyweights in Champions Cup first leg
Switzerland's Floorball Thurgau defeated Czech powerhouse Florbal Mlada Boleslav 6:4 at home in the first leg of their Champions Cup quarterfinal, taking the early advantage in the two-game series.
In front of 734 spectators, Swiss club Floorball Thurgau delivered a surprise result against Czech floorball heavyweight Florbal Mlada Boleslav, winning the opening leg of their Champions Cup quarterfinal 6:4.
The hosts struck first in the sixth minute: after the visitors lost the puck following a corner play, sustained pressure won it back, and Vojtěch Wiener set up a completely unmarked Patrik Sučánek, whose rebound shot proved unstoppable. The Czechs answered soon after when Aro Helin stayed on his feet through a battle with a defender and set up Niklas Graf to level the score. Late in the period, Elia Zeiler broke away down the right flank and beat goalkeeper Lukáš Bauer from a tight angle, sending Thurgau into the break 2:1 up.
Momentum shifted in the second period. Adam Delong converted a pass from Jiří Bešta to tie the game, and just a minute later Jakub Vareča capitalized on a quick passing sequence to put Mlada Boleslav ahead 3:2.
The decisive action came in the third period, particularly the final ten minutes. On a power play, Pablo Marioti found the far top corner to level the score at 3:3. With under five minutes remaining, Aro Helin's sweeping shot put the hosts back in front, and just 11 seconds later Zeiler scored again from close range to extend the lead to 5:3. The Czechs pulled their goalkeeper for an extra attacker, and Vareča cut the deficit to one goal, but Zeiler sealed the win with an empty-net strike, closing out a 6:4 victory.
Elia Zeiler and Aro Helin each contributed three points for Thurgau, while Jakub Vareča led Mlada Boleslav's scoring with two points. The Czech side will now need a regulation-time win at home in the second leg to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
