The Swedish Olympic Committee’s goal of winning 15 medals was already within reach. On Thursday, the Women’s Crowns want to secure 16th place at the Winter Games.
But that’s not how it happened.
– It is clear that it was a big disappointment. We had been waiting for this for so many years and we felt we had a chance to win a medal for Sweden, says Hanna Olsson.
Just like twelve years ago at the Olympic Games in Sochi, it was Switzerland that ruined the bronze medal plans – and this time too, 27-year-old Alina Müller got on the scoresheet when she scored the decisive 2-1 goal just 50 seconds before the end.
After an uneventful one At the beginning it only got hot in the second third in the Santagiulia Arena.
It started with Switzerland being awarded a penalty after Hanna Olsson went after Ivana Wey in a free position. However, Ebba Svensson Träff held on as Wey tried to put the puck between the goalie’s legs.
Instead, it was Sweden who took the lead five minutes later. Hilda Svensson passed to Mira Jungåker, who sent the puck with a pull shot to the far crossbar – thanks largely to Hanna Olsson and Thea Johansson, who covered Frölunda’s goalkeeper Andrea Brändli.
However, the joy didn’t last long. Before the end of the half, the Swiss equalized after a Swedish puck throw in their own zone and in the end it was Sinja Leemann who made the final score 1-1.
thinks Anna Kjellbin Not that Sweden had one of its better games in the tournament.
– I don’t think we’re at the same level at the start of the game, although I think we’re getting into it. We knew it would be tight. “We have our chances and manage to get a puck, but it’s not enough to win hockey games,” she said.
Sweden dominated the shooting statistics, but the longer the time passed, the more uncertain the outcome of the game became.
After 60 minutes the score was still 1-1 and overtime awaited on the same ice where the Tre Kronor team had “suddenly died” less than a day earlier.
This time too it would be a Swedish defeat.
Switzerland had both free position and a hit in the goal frame – and finally the puck was where it should be, behind Ebba Svensson Träff.
– It’s really sad. “I think we’re playing perfectly well and creating chances to win the game,” said Lisa Johansson, 33, one of the national team’s veterans.
– After we won the quarterfinals, I said that I have been waiting to play for medals for 15 years. “I was very hungry,” she continues.
For the Swedish team it was an overnight end to an otherwise successful tournament and the last appearance of Confederation captain Ulf Lundberg in the national team.
Since the start of the Olympic tournament over two weeks ago, the players have been determined to win a medal, the first in an Olympic context since 2006. That wasn’t the case and several players cried on the ice after losing the bronze medal.
– It will be empty. Curtain down. I will be very sad. “I had to collect myself a little before I met you,” Hanna Olsson told Swedish media on location in Milan.
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