When we talk about women’s rivalry, we inevitably think of the North American duel between Canada and the United States, which also delivered a spectacular scenario during the preliminary round. But another rivalry has emerged in recent years between Finland and Czechia.
For the fourth consecutive time at the world championships, the Finnish and Czech Lionesses find themselves at the same stage, in the quarter-finals, except that the scenario is reversed for this year. The Suomi selection, at the time well established in Group A, had won the first two confrontations, but in 2022 they suffered their first blow by conceding their first defeat in official competition against the Czechs, in extra time. The Naisleijonat then joined Group B, their rivals going the opposite way by obtaining their first medal, in bronze, at the world championships.
Promoted to Group A for the first time, the Czech Republic fell with honors against Canada and the United States during the preliminary round, but they also dominated Japan and Switzerland, a last match also particularly controlled against the Helvetians. Under the leadership of Carla MacLeod, a respected coach who is listened to religiously, this team is full of confidence with a spirit of solidarity that seems indestructible. A group strong accomplice of his coach as evidenced by the video below:
???? Inside the locker room with Coach @carla_macleod and @narodnitymzen after their win over @swissIceHockey#WomensWorlds #InspireTheNext pic.twitter.com/Um6yPBecdb
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 12, 2023
Unsurprisingly, the Finns dominated a group B far too narrow for their level, conceding only 3 goals in 4 games in addition to a formidable firepower led by Petra Nieminen (already 8 points). The talent is there, and serenity definitely seems to be back after several years marked by tensions and scandals.
No surprises in front of goal. In the Czech camp, confidence continues for Blanka Škodová, who has played in all four of his side’s games including two strong performances against Japan and Switzerland. The usual holder of the suomi house Anni Keisala (93.5% saves in this tournament) faces him.
The Czechs were particularly enterprising at the start of the match, with a backhand shot from Mlýnková, then an overflow from Neubauerová. Mistreated, Finland must quickly kill an inferiority, a back pass from Pejzlová for Křízová sows panic. However, a superb individual action by Petra Nieminen, narrowly stopped with three players on her back, wakes up Finland. Škodová must also make his first dive in the 12th minute to stop Yrjänen. But three minutes later, when Finland had a good presence in the Czech camp, Noora Tulus sent a diagonal pass to Vivi Vainikka, unmarked in front of goal and who skilfully scored from the backhand, between the pads of Škodová (0-1, 15’18). A double opportunity from Karjalainen and Vanhanen just missed doubling the lead.
Finland manages to lead after one period, but there is one thing that is still impossible for them (like the other opponents of the Czechs): to stick a goal to the best shorthanded game of the tournament which always has 100% success, including understood against the Canadian and American superpowers. The Czech “pk” resisted at the end of the first period and at the start of the second period thanks to this incredible solidarity, like Klára Hymlárová who blocked three shots in a row (!) and writhed in pain.
Czech inferiority is hermetic… and superiority intractable. A battle against the boards, behind Keisala’s goal, frees the puck for Natálie Mlýnková, who grabs it and goes around the net to surprise Keisala (1-1, 26’46). And Keisala will lose again… 49 seconds later: Aneta Tejralová enters the offensive zone and passes back to Kateřina Mrázová, who with a volley sends a cannonball (2-1, 27’35).
Kateřina Mrázová gives Czechia the lead! #WomensWorlds pic.twitter.com/GIBdCsF00O
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 13, 2023
The score is turned upside down but Nieminen tries to sound the revolt, first with a recovery, then a spectacular rush which forces Škodová to do it several times to capture the puck. However, the Czechs return to the locker room with this one-goal advantage.
Heckled until then, Finland will raise their voices in the third period, well helped by the indiscipline of the Czech Republic which will concede three penalties in the space of six minutes. If a Czech 2v1 proves threatening, Mlýnková perhaps mistakenly playing it solo, Suomi dominance will deepen. Nylund, Tulus and Hiirikoski warm up the pallets, Škodová remains vigilant. Finland probably missed the opportunity of the match, the golden chance to equalize, ten minutes from the end when Julia Liikala hit the post, the puck then returned to the stick of Nelli Laitinen who, despite facing the totally open angle, does not fit! What a missed opportunity as Škodová then has to stretch the pad past Hiirikoski.
The stay of the Finns in the Czech camp continues but the brave players of Carla MacLeod continue to sacrifice themselves despite the suffering of this last period. Brief presences in the suomi zone then allow the Czechs to breathe, but you still have to grit your teeth. Coach Juuso Toivola decides to release Keisala three minutes from the end. In the sequence that follows, Savolainen resumes in front of goal, Lindstedt is on the deflection, nothing helps. Hiirikoski and Laitinen strike in turn, thunder roars: 1’30 from the end, Finland has a 20-shot lead! But this rain of throws will fade prematurely, Rantala illegally charging Šapovalivová 31 seconds from the end, depriving his team of a final momentum.
This allows the Czechs to control, to explode with joy in the last seconds and to qualify for the second time in a row for the semi-finals of the Worlds. What a performance from Blanka Škodová, 41 saves in total, who had the difficult task of replacing the holder Klára Peslarová, injured for several months. What a tour de force for this 25-year-old goalkeeper.
It is also the victory of a united team (always with 100% penalties killed in five games!) and talented who will try to get the medal, or even upset the big favourites. As for Finland, the tournament is not over since they still have the classification matches, which they probably neglected last year, this would prevent them from returning to group B in 2024.
Players of the match: Natálie Mlýnková for Czechia, Viivi Vainikka for Finland.
Another rivalry is born.
4th consecutive quarter-final at the Worlds between Finland ???????? and the Czech Republic ????????, and the 2nd in a row won by the Czechs!
41 saves for Blanka Škodová and still NO goal conceded in inferiority by this beautiful team!#WomensWorlds pic.twitter.com/M1sjp9xCXA— Nicolas Jacquet (@Nico_Jt_) April 13, 2023
Post-match comments
Natálie Mlýnková (Czech striker): “It’s an incredible feeling, they are such formidable opponents. Bravo to them, they are talented, they are really fast. The fact that we can beat them and prove that 2022 wasn’t just a surprise means a lot to us. It gives us a lot of self-confidence. When you play with confidence you have it all, it’s so much fun. »
Czechia – Finland 2-1 (0-1, 2-0, 0-0)
Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the CAA Center in Brampton. 1034 spectators.
Refereeing by Cianna Lieffers (CAN) and Chelsea Rapin (USA) assisted by Anna Hammar (SUE) and Justine Todd (CAN).
Penalties: Czechia 10′ (2′, 2′, 6′), Finland 8′ (2′, 4′, 2′).
Shots: Czechia 22 (11, 6, 5), Finland 42 (13, 11, 18).
Score evolution:
0-1 à 15’18 : Vainikka assistée de Tulus et Laitinen
1-1 à 26’46 : Mlýnková assistée de Křížová et Mrázová (sup. num.)
2-1 à 27’35: Mrázová assisted by Tejralová and Čajanová
Czechia
Forwards:
Adéla Šapovalivová (+1) – Kateřina Mrázová (+1) (A) – Natálie Mlýnková (+1)
Denisa Křížová (-1, 2′) – Michaela Pejzlová (-1) – Tereza Vanišová (-1)
Klára Hymlarová – Vendula Přibylová (2′) – Noemi Neubauerová (2′)
Tereza Pištěková – Alena Mills (C) – Kristýna Pátková
Tereza Plosová
Defenders:
Daniela Pejšová – Dominika Lásková (4′)
Aneta Tejralová (A, +1) – Sára Čajanová (+1)
Klára Jandušíková (-1) – Andrea Trnková (-1)
Guardian:
Blanka Škodová
Substitute: Kateřina Zechovská (G). En réserve : Michaela Hesová (G), Karolína Kosinová (D).
Finland
Forwards:
Viivi Vainikka (+1) – Noora Tulus (A, +1) – Kiira Yrjänen (+1)
Petra Nieminen (A) – Sanni Vanhanen – Julia Liikala
Emilia Vesa – Jennina Nylund (2′) – Sofiana Sundelin
Anni Montonen (-1) – Emmi Rakkolainen (-1) – Anna-Kaisa Anttu-Roiko (-1)
See Havana
Defenders:
Jenni Hiirikoski (C) – Nelli Laitinen
Sanni Rantala (2′) – Ronja Savolainen (4′)
Sini Karjalainen – Krista Parkkonen
Rosa Lindstedt
Guardian:
Years Keisala [sortie de 56’45 à 59’29]
Substitute: Sanni Ahola (G). In reserve: Emilia Kyrkkö (G).
