BRATISLAVA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Republic broke Germany's resistance in the third period of their quarterfinal battle on Thursday and secured the last semifinal spot at 2019 ice hockey worlds in Slovakia.
After a goalless first period, Germany managed to answer the Czech's opening goal in the second but failed to mount a comeback in the third that was dominated entirely by Milos Riha's men.
The Czech Republic's points leader Jakub Voracek scored on his own rebound, Dominik Kubalik sent a rocket past Phillip Grubauer on a turnover and Ondrej Palat punished the goalie's mistake on an unlucky bounce off the end boards to stretch the lead to 4-1.
Germany gambled and pulled their goalie with three and a half minutes left, but Jan Kovar, the author of the opening goal, scored his second of the night into the empty net and sealed the deal at 5-1.
The Czechs will face Canada on Saturday and it will be their first semifinal participation since the 2015 world championship on home ice.
