RIGA, 18 May 2006 — Slovakia and Belarus earned their quarterfinal passes here on Tuesday after winning their ice hockey world championship’s Group F clashes against Ukraine and Switzerland respectively.

Andrei Skabelka collected a goal and an assist, while goalie Andrei Mezin produced 29 saves to help Belarus to a 2-1 win over Switzerland and open the path to the knockout round for Slovakia. A draw fit both Belarus and Switzerland, sending them into the knockout round, but Belarus made it clear right from the start that they were taking the mission of earning their first-ever pass into the quarterfinals seriously. Andrei Skabelka put them into the lead nine minutes into the game scoring with a wrist shot from the right face-off circle, while Sergei Zadelenov netted Belarus second — and his tournament’s fourth — halfway into the second with a close-range shot.

Martin Pluss netted a consolation for Switzerland from Ivo Rutheman’s pass 8:17 into the third but failed to save the day for his side as Belarus defended stoutly and kept their minimum lead through. Slovakia converted the chance of qualifying for the knockout round that was gifted them by Belarus and also clinched their playoff berth beating 8-0 Ukraine in the other Group F match. Richard Kapus lifted Slovakia 1-0 up at 12:52, redirecting Milan Bartovic’s cross into the net. Dusan Milo, Martin Strbak, Miroslav Kovacik and Milan Bartovic added one apiece in the second.

In the third Slovaks eased up pressure but nevertheless scored on three more occasions through Kapus, who picked his second of the match, Michal Hudec and Milan Jurcina.

Meanwhile, defending champions the Czech Republic failed to jump to the top of Group F, suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the United States. The US squad seized the lead through Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ryan Malone, who picked up the puck at the Czechs’ blue line skated in front of the net and sent it in past goalie Milan Hnilicka 13:03 into the match.

Mark Cullen, who plays with NHL side Chicago Blackhawks, made it 2-0 for the Americans with 17sec remaining in the first period, when he sent the puck home from close range with a ricochet of Hnilicka’s skate.

In the other Group F match Latvia beat Norway 4-2.