Olympic Games: Sweden vs Japan, Women’s Classification (5-8) Match

Sweden were fourth in Sochi and Japan seventh, whilst the Nordic nation won a close encounter in the group stages a week ago, 2-1. Early this Sunday morning, Central European Time, the teams met again and the first period would be marked by penalties not goals with Sweden giving up three and Japan just one. But neither team was able to convert the extra player advantage into goals. For Sweden the aggression spilling over for captain and Linköping defender Emilia Ramboldt and MODO Hockey forward Olivia Carlsson who both sat down in different incidents after dishing out an Illegal Hit on their opponents.

It would be the second period where the goals would be scored as Japan lit up the stadium with an even strengthen goal after just 1:23 from Shiori Koike. When four minutes later Sweden had their first Penalty Kill of the period, the same thing happened as in their previous match against Finland - Sweden scored with one less player on the ice. This time it was Lisa Johansson of AIK who got the goal to draw the match level to 1-1.

And that is how it stayed through to the end of the third period, despite Sweden having three power plays to Japan's one. But to no avail, no one could find that little piece of Olympic magic. Even the shot statistics were even - both had taken 39 during the game.

But in Sudden Death only one team can win, Sweden managing one shot and Japan seven, in the 3:16 that it took for Ayaka Toko, the 23 year old Tokyo officer worker, to put the puck past 2007 World Championship Bronze Medalist holder, Sara Grahn, 29 of Brynäs IF.

On 20 February Japan will go on to play Switzerland in a battle for fifth or sixth place in the tournament. On the same day Leif Boork will surely be managing his last game as coach when Sweden meet Korea in the battle not to be last in the Olympic Games.

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