The hockey players of Sweden and the USA will meet in the final of the World Cup of Hockey players under the age of 20. The Americans defeated Finland 3-2 in Thursday’s second semifinal match, despite trailing 0-2. Cutter Gauthier scored the decisive goal in the 57th minute. The Swedes won their place in the final after a 5:2 triumph over the Czech Republic.
It will be the first final for the Americans since 2021, while they have five world championship titles in this age category. The Swedes last played in the World Cup “20” final in 2018, when they lost to Canada. They won gold twice – in 1981 and 2012. USA and Sweden met in the final in 2013, when the overseas team triumphed. The Finns have a bronze medal match with the Czechs, who lost to the Swedes 2:5.
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USA – Finland 3:2 (0:2, 2:0, 1:0) Goals: 33. Snuggerud (Casey, Smith), 37. Smith (Perreault, Chesley), 57. Gauthier (Hutson, Brindley) – 2. Keskinen (Männistö), 13. Kumpulainen (Kärki, Bau)
The Finns had a promising entry into the semi-final match when they took advantage of an individual mistake by the Americans and Keskinen opened the score – 0:1. In the game’s balanced first period, they also added a second goal, which Kumpulainen took care of in the 13th minute with a shot by Kärki – 0:2.
The Americans increased the tempo in the second period and put the Finns under pressure several times. In the 33rd minute, they paid for the first dismissal in the match and Snuggerud made it 1:2 with a shot without preparation. Four minutes later, it was already tied, when one of the many offensive combinations of the USA was finished by an uncovered Smith – 2:2.
The Finns leveled the game in the third period, but they finally got the better of them in the second, strictly awarded penalty. The pressure of the Americans in the 57th minute resulted in a shot by Gauthier, which the goalkeeper Kokko did not reach – 3:2.
2024-01-04 20:59:50
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