Triumphant Czechs overpower Sweden

The clashes between Sweden and the Czech Republic have always been interesting, passionate and awesome to watch: two different styles of play which, put one against the other, created great and unexpected things. Today happened exactly that, and the Scandinavians simply had to surrender themselves in front of a great Czech team.

The first quarter started the other way round, though: as the Czechs received two penalties in short sequences, Robert Rosen put Tre Kronor on an early lead, later replied by Martin Lundgren assisted by Sjoberg, who signed a fantastic short-handed goal; the first part of the game was thus an uncomfortable 0-2 for Czech Republic. 

The second period was, anyways, a Czech show: David Pastrnak, Jan Kovar and Michal Birner (the latter being unassisted and with his own team shorthanded after a two-minute penalty inflicted to Robert Kousal) scored three magnificent goals, putting their country on the lead.

It wasn't enough, and Birner, against unassisted, scored the last goal of the game as well, despite two Swedish attempts of leaving their net empty to equalize. But the Czechs were simply too strong, and the loss of concentration displayed by Sweden too high, to fix things up: therefore, Czech Republic earned a well-deserved and entertaining win, and will now face Norway, while Tre Kronor will take on Kazakhstan in two days' time. 

Tweets by @eurohockey