Lugano swallow Lions in four gulps

Lugano encountered no difficulties in their game against the Zurich Lions Keystone

The Zurich Lions stood no chance against Lugano on Thursday in the third match of Switzerland's ice hockey finals. With its 4-1 victory in Resega, Lugano take a 2-1 lead over Zurich in the best-of-seven series.

The victory of the Ticinese team is due in large part to the exceptional game played by the Frenchman Philippe Bozon, who scored the four winning goals.

Lugano played an aggressive game from the onset, forcing the Lions to call for a time-out after 15 minutes and two goals. Edgar Salis then brought the score back to 3-1 in the second period, bringing a short-lived hope to Zurich’s fans.

Bozon struck for the fourth and last time after 32 minutes.

All statistics now speak in favour of Lugano as the next champion, as all teams victorious in the third game of the finals have won the title in the past. And no team whose player scored four goals has ever lost in the finals.

Lugano and Zurich meet again next Saturday in Zurich for the fourth match.

Bozon’s achievement follows similar ones by Kent Johansson (Lugano, 1986), Patrick Howald (Bern, 1992) and Roman Wäger (Kloten, 1995). It is the third time the Lugano player scores four goals in one match.

swissinfo with agencies