Lausanne will have spent only one day at the top of the National League. Leaders after their success on Saturday against Genève-Servette, the Lions lost their place on the throne on Monday following their victory on penalties in Langnau (3-4). This is still their fourth consecutive success.
The LHC showed its efficiency at the start of the game, as it opened the scoring with its first shot. Lauri Pajuniemi (2nd, 0-1) took advantage of a failed throw from Phil Baltisberger to deceive Stéphane Charlin between the legs at close range. Then, it was Langnau who proved dangerous, mainly in power play, but the Kevin Pasche wall multiplied the high-class saves.
This meeting allowed us to answer a question. Yes, the Lausanne goalkeeper is always capable of conceding more than one goal in a game. This no longer happened on December 7 and a trip to Ajoie. The last bastion of the LHC was beaten twice at mid-match, by Harri Pesonen (26th, 1-1) and Dario Rohrbach (33rd, 2-1).
But the goalkeeper has nothing to reproach for these two successes. He can even congratulate himself on having kept his people in the meeting. They then equalized, against the run of play, by Ahti Oksanen (38th, 2-2). The Finn exploited good work from his compatriot Antti Suomela in the strip.
Kevin Pasche finally proved he was human. He let slip a saveable shot from Sean Malone (55th, 3-2). Fortunately for him, Jason Fuchs (58th, 3-3), author of his first goal of the year, restored parity.
On penalties, Janne Kuokkanen scored her two attempts to give the Vaudois the extra point. The LHC will meet Kloten on January 2 (3:45 p.m.) at the Vaudoise arena to launch the year 2025.
Langnau – Lausanne 3-4 tab (0-1 2-1 1-1)
emmental versicherung arena, 6000 spectators (box offices closed).
Arbitrator: MM. Piechaczek, Mollard, Steenstra, Gnemmi.
Buts: 2e Pajuniemi 0-1, 27e Pesonen (Riikola, Malone) 1-1, 33e Rohrbach (Pesonen, Guggenheim) 2-1, 38e Oksanen (Finland) 2-2, 55e Malone 3-2, 58e Fuchs (Pajuniemi, Kuokkanen / 6c5) 3-3.
Tirs aux buts: Rochette -, Pesonen -, Riat -, Rohrbach -, Kuokkanen 0-1, Saarela -, Oksanen -, Malone -, Suomela -, Saarijärvi 1-1, Saarijärvi -, Kuokkanen 1-2.
Langnau: Charlin; Zanetti, Riikola; Saarijärvi, Paschoud; Guggenheim, Baltisberger; Meier; Saarela, Malone, Mäenalanen; Rohrbach, F. Schmutz, Pesonen; Fahrni, Canova, Allenspach; Petrini, Salzgeber, Lapinskis; J. Schmutz. Coach: Thierry Paterlini.
Lausanne: Pasche; Sklenicka, Bayreuther; Heldner, Frick; Fiedler, Marti; Vouardoux, Genazzi; Riat, Suomela, Oksanen; Bozon, Jäger, Fuchs; Pajuniemi, Kuokkanen, Rochette; Hügli, Bougro, Holdener. Coach: Geoff Ward.
Penalties: 0 x 2' against Langnau; 3 x 2' against Lausanne.
Notes: Langnau without Erni (injured), Cadonau, Kristof (extras), Berger (ill) and Felcman (absent). Lausanne without Glauser, Pilut, Prassl, Raffl (injured), Mémeteau (extra) and Fatton (Swiss League). Lausanne without goalkeeper from 58'23 to 58'26. Shots on the uprights: 3rd Saarela, 25th Saarela.
