– We already knew beforehand – considering what they have shown before – that it would be a completely different challenge than the one we have faced so far. But of course it was sad that it ended like this, said defender Maja Nylén Persson to HBO after the game.
Striker Lisa Johansson agrees with her teammate.
– It was a really competent team that we met, and of course it’s sad in hindsight. “Because even though everyone at home expected it, it’s not something you expect when you go in to play a game,” she told HBO.
After five Consecutive victories at the Olympics saw Sweden fall to gold favorites USA. The last step before the final on Thursday was, not unexpectedly, an overly difficult task and the reigning world champions ultimately won clearly 5-0.
– We should have been there from the beginning and then had a slightly longer attack on them. But from others we do better in hand-to-hand combat and in the press game, yes, in everything. We got about 20 shots from them and at times I felt like we had more space in the offensive zone than we did against the Czech Republic (quarterfinal). “So it’s something you can take with you,” said Maja Nylén Persson.
– Of course it’s difficult at the moment, but now we have to digest it and then all we have to do is reload. Because we will come home with a medal, she continued.
The women got crowns They got off to a rocky start and were at a disadvantage just over five minutes into the first period. Cayla Barnes, an everyday professional with the PWHL team Seattle, found the right thing with a pull shot from the blue line to make it 1-0.
The USA then continued to dominate and the Swedish team was pushed back heavily for long stretches – but goalkeeper Ebba Svensson Träff was on the podium, continued the well-trodden path from the quarter-final win (2-0) against the Czech Republic and played well.
Used to In the club team Linköping (next jumbo in the SDHL) he had a lot of shots against him, the 21-year-old countered one puck after the other and kept his team in the game.
However, the game changed its character at times. The women’s crowns were able to assert themselves with offensive attacks and ensured that even US goalkeeper Aaerin Frankel was tested with dangerous finishes from Hilda Svensson and Mira Jungåker.
At the first half break it was “only” 1-0, and although the USA had high-quality scoring chances at regular intervals, there was no shortage of opportunities for Sweden, who were holding their own well at the halfway point of the semi-final.
However, as Ebba Svensson Träff looked more and more like she could become a ghost for the Americans, the goal made it 2-0. Taylor Heise had the puck last as the USA got two on one and ended up getting a hole in the Swedish goalie.
Then it went away.
In less than Three minutes later, the USA scored three goals and suddenly the scoreboard read 5-0. After the 4-0 goal, Ebba Svensson Träff left the ice and made way for reserve player Emma Söderberg, who only had to stay without conceding a goal for one minute and 49 seconds.
Not long after, the blue and yellows really got excited when Abbey Murphy carelessly ran over Emma Söderberg behind her own goal. Jessica Adolfsson really lit up and knocked the American over – which was easy, thought Mira Jungåker.
– It’s completely hopeless. “Yes, pathetic that they don’t even deal with a situation like this,” she told SVT during the subsequent break, adding:
– The referees have to start. You could also get a second for Diving if Jessica (Adolfsson) got a second for Roughing.
More goals in the third half The quarter failed to materialize and Sweden was scoreless for the first time in the tournament.
However, a defeat against the USA is no reason to be ashamed, every team has experienced that so far. In the group stage, they won successively big victories against the Czech Republic (5-1), Finland (5-0), Switzerland (5-0) and even the strong team Canada (5-0), before hosts Italy were eliminated 0-6 in the quarterfinals.
For the Swedish part it is now important to move on quickly. The goal before the Olympic tournament was to win the first championship medal since the 2007 World Championships bronze, and that could well come true.
The third prize game will be played on Thursday at 2:40 p.m. The loser awaits there in the second semi-final between Canada and Switzerland, which begins on Monday at 9:10 p.m.
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