Sweden defeats USA to reach U18 hockey final « Euro Weekly News

A late-game surge and nerves of steel send Sweden into the gold-medal match against Canada

It was the kind of match that kept fans on the edge of their seats — a tense, hard-fought semi-final between two hockey powerhouses. But in the end, it was Sweden who edged out the USA in a dramatic 4–3 victory to book their spot in the U18 World Championship final.

“We played to win,” said national team head coach Thomas Paananen, after what was arguably one of the most nail-biting finishes of the tournament so far.

Sweden recovers from slow start to turn up the pressure

Things didn’t exactly go Sweden’s way in the opening minutes. Paananen admitted the team struggled to find their footing early on. That gave Team USA an opportunity — and they took it, opening the scoring less than five minutes into the second period.

But the Americans’ lead didn’t last long. The Swedes responded with calm determination, equalising soon after and shifting the momentum. From that point on, it was anyone’s game.

Down to three men — and still fighting

The third period delivered the drama, with both teams pushing hard to tip the balance. At one point, Sweden faced a serious challenge, going two men down and playing 3-on-5 — a nightmare scenario in any hockey match.

Yet remarkably, the Swedes held their ground. Not only did they defend their goal with grit, but they went on to score two critical goals during the period.

“That third period was our best,” wrote Paananen. “The key moment was surviving the 3-on-5, then scoring the 4–2 goal right after.”

USA’s late goal not enough to turn the tide

With just under five minutes left on the clock, the USA narrowed the gap to 4–3, igniting hopes of a comeback. But Sweden kept their composure and closed out the match, sending them through to the final.

Their opponent? None other than Canada, setting up a classic gold-medal showdown between two of hockey’s most passionate nations. The final will be played overnight from Saturday to Sunday (Swedish time).

When asked about preparation, Paananen kept it simple: “We’ll prepare the same way we have for every other match.”

The stage is set. If this semi-final was anything to go by, the final promises to be another unforgettable chapter in this year’s tournament.

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