In the opening period, the Damkronorna delivered a fairly bleak performance.
Finland dominated the game from the start and got their reward after just over nine minutes, and shortly before the break, they also made it 2–0 – with a promise of more goals to come.
Frustrating. Sloppy from our side where the passes don't stick and we don't communicate enough with each other. So we need to step it up, said Damkronorna's Lisa Johansson to SVT during the period break.
And they did step it up.
National team captain Ulf Lundberg reshuffled the lines and 50 seconds in, Ebba Hedqvist, who scored a hat-trick against Norway, scored the reducer in a counter-attack.
Irritated after Finland's goal
Not long after, the equalizer to 2–2 came through Josefin Bouveng.
However, Finland would retake the lead after a situation that sparked great irritation in the Swedish team. Mira Jungåker was fouled after a collision with a Finnish player, but the referee let the game continue without taking action – which was the case throughout the match, as Finland didn't receive a single penalty while Damkronorna got two.
It's the referees who judge and you have to trust that they do the right thing. But there are questionable situations out there, and it's clear that it's frustrating when it affects us in that way, said Ebba Hedqvist to SVT after the second period.
3–2 to Finland, and in the final act, there was no further equalizing hunt from Sweden.
"Must be better"
The closest they came was through a dangerous situation from Lina Ljungblom, who was blocked – and now Damkronorna are eliminated.
It's really tough. I'm so tired of coming to you and crying after the World Championship tournaments, says Lina Ljungblom to SVT's Marie Lehmann.
We want so much and put ourselves in a good position. But it doesn't go our way.
National team captain Ulf Lundberg:
We must be better over three periods. We were very passive, possibly a bit too cautious, he says to SVT and gives his view on the disputed situation.
I had hoped that I would experience it differently when I saw it on video than from the bench, but unfortunately, I don't. So in my book, that's interference.
Next up is a placement match for Damkronorna.
