Russia and Finland fight for gold in ice hockey finals

Ice hockey teams from Russia and Finland have reached the final of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The Russian team defeated Sweden 2-1 (0-0, 1-0, 0-1) after a penalty shoot-out on Friday and is thus playing for gold again four years after beating Germany 4-3 in the 2018 final. Finland, second in the World Cup, beat Slovakia 2-0 (1-0, 0-0, 1-0) in the first semi-final, who beat the German team 4-0 in Beijing in the quarter-finals tournament had thrown.

The final is scheduled for Sunday (05:10 / ORF, ZDF and Eurosport). Already on Saturday (2.10 p.m.) Sweden and Slovakia will play for bronze.

The 16th penalty decided

In a close match between two hockey powerhouses, the Russians were unlucky to hit the post in the first period and then took the lead in the second period after just 15 seconds of play. Anton Slepyschew first prevailed against his opponent on the rink, then rounded goalkeeper Lars Johansson and pushed in. Only Sweden’s captain Anton Lander was able to overcome the Russians’ defense, which had been stable again until then, with a snatched goal (47th).

Sweden then pushed on, but another goal was not scored even in the ten-minute extra time with only three field players each. In the penalty shoot-out, Arseni Gritsjuk converted the 16th attempt to the enthusiastically celebrated victory of the Russians.

By Editor

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