Very nice performance from Finnish women – besides the third period

06.02.2010

Finland gave a good performance under new national team head coach Karo Kuussaari. Good passing and strong will of play. In the third period they however lost the momentum and Sweden took lead and victory by 9-5.

Home team started scoring with wrist shot from middle area of the court scored by Elina Kujala, passed by Mia Alén. Right after that Tiia Ukkonen and Laura Kokko worked nicely together and Finland had a 2-0 lead. Sweden fought back with a power play goal and made it even with lovely criss-cross passes through Finnish defence and Sara Kristoffersson couldn’t miss.

Moa Schilström took Sweden to 3-2 lead in the start of the second period. Elina Enlund equalized and Eliisa Alanko fought herself through Swedish defence and scored 4-3. Goal was passed by Maiju Merikanto. Finland showed lovely passing and home team’s support was getting ready to raise the roof as Ukkonen-Kokko manufactured 5-3 goal. Before the end of period Sweden was able to get one goal closer as Lisah Samuelsson directed a bouncing ball to the back of the net.

Sweden owned the game in the third period. Finland was a mess and made a lot of mistakes. For Finland’s mistakes Sweden didn’t show any mercy: next four goals were scored by Sweden. Final score 5-9 doesn’t tell the whole story, since Finland was strong until the third period.

Head coach of Finland, Karo Kuussaari, was disappointed with the result, but was pleased with the level of performance the team showed in the first and second period.
- In the first line leading players, Laura Kokko and Tiia Ukkonen were good, as were the experienced Katriina Saarinen and Maiju Merikanto in the second.  Also Liisa Kokkonen did well in the goal and Anne Toivanen in the defence, especially with the ball.

Third period was all trouble for Finland.
- Sweden came harder on us and our play was a mess. We couldn’t get out of our own area. When thinking about the game without the third period, I’m very  pleased with team’s performance.

 

Match record and statictics