Finland goes ou of World Ice Hockey Championships

Finland met the United States in Bern in the Quarter-Finals of The World Ice Hockey Championships last night.After a promising start the game slipped away from the Finns and they were beaten 3-2 and sent on their way back home.
The Americans gave a very solid performance,taking advantage of all the chances they were offered,as a result Finlands players can only blame themselves for not moving forward to play against Russia on Friday

The match

The first 20 minutes were dominated by the Finnish team,placing some 21 shots at the American Goalkeeper:Robert Esche.Things were looking good for the Finnish team until the second period commenced.

The Finns began the second period with a promising start.Nikko Kapenen scored a goal 57 seconds into the period.Finland were in powerplay and assisted by Niklas Hagman and Antti Miettinen
To most Finns this was a time to celebrate,beleiving that yet more goals would follow.I was in a bar with friends,and most were talking about the next round against Russia
“ Dont count your chickens before they hatch”,I kept saying, trying not to be pessimistic and down the positive atmoshere.
Unfortunately for the Finnish Lions they received 3 penalties;Jaarko Ruutu,Mikko Lehtonen and Hannes Hyvönen.It was the turning point of the game.The Americans found a new burst of life and began controlling the game from this point on.

Dustin Brown Scores for the USA

Dustin Brown close to the back post scored an equaliser for the Americans.Finland had been playing short handed 3-5.From then on Finland seemed to fall into disarray.The American team scored a further 2 goals,by Ryan Suter and Timothy Oshie,taking the score to 3-1 America.
What had happened,people were thinking.The whole game had gone disastrously wrong.The game play was falling to pieces.
2 minutes towards the end of the end of the second period,Hannes Hyvönen scored and seemed to bring the chance of qualifying alive once more.
In the third and final period,it seemed that the Americans were content to just keep the Finnish Team at bay.They were looking to solidify their score and guarantee a match against Russia.
The final whistle was blown.The score 3-2 too the Americans.Finland were out of the tournament and The United States moves forward in their quest to win the championships.Stats showed that the American Esche had saved 47 shots,Pekka Rinne 32.The disappointment was high amongst the Finnish Team itself and the supporters alike.

Well there is next year; and we will be back for the 2010 World Ice Hockey Championships