SHENZHEN, May 2 (Xinhua) -- China defeated the Netherlands 6-3 in the third round of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group B on Saturday, securing its second consecutive win.

China took the lead in the seventh minute as Wang Haoxi scored with a long-range shot. Just two minutes later, Wang found the net again. Toward the end of the first period, Hou Yuyang added another goal, giving China a 3-0 lead heading into the second period.

Chen Zimeng made it 4-0 for China in the second period, before the Netherlands struck back through Wouter Sars on a power play. Danny Stempher added another to cut the deficit to 4-2.

Following a roughing penalty on China's Huang Yixiang, Raymond van der Schuit scored on the power play for the Netherlands to make it 4-3, but Yan Juncheng netted late in the period to restore China's two-goal lead.

In the closing stages of the third period, the Netherlands pulled its goalkeeper with two minutes remaining, and Hou seized the chance to score an empty-net goal, sealing a 6-3 victory for China.

"My family came to support me today, which probably brought me some luck. I actually caught a cold this morning and had a fever, so scoring two goals is also a reward for myself," said Wang.

Earlier on Saturday, Estonia defeated South Korea 4-2 for its third straight win, while Romania beat Spain 4-1. ■