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HALIFAX, Canada, May 14, 2008 (AFP) - Finland booked a spot in the semi-finals with a 3-2 overtime victory over the United States at the World Ice Hockey Championships on Wednesday.
Finland moves on to Quebec City, where they will face the mighty Russians in Friday´s semi-finals.
Defenceman Sami Lepisto scored the winner just under four minutes into the overtime, wristing a long shot from the blueline through the legs of American goaltender Robert Esche, who was being screened by Saku Koivu.
"God it was good to see that puck go in," Finnish forward Teemu Selanne said.
The US threw a scare into the Finns as Phil Kessel and Drew Stafford scored just 37 seconds apart to rally from a 2-0 deficit.
"We didn´t quit," Selanne said. "On those goals we didn´t make any mistakes, the puck just went in against us. Obviously it was frustrating, and it was tough.
The Finns outskated the Americans for most of the game and looked headed for a 2-0 victory when disaster struck.
The Americans were one of the top scoring teams in the tournament with 15 powerplay goals, but it took them more than 55 minutes to get untracked Wednesday.
Forward Zach Parise did his best to sum up the roller-coaster of emotions they went through in the third period and overtime.
"Lots of disappointment right now," said Parise, of the Americans who lost for the fourth consecutive time in the quarter-finals.
"It was a great comeback for us. We didn´t quit. Then all of sudden you are packing your bags and going home."
It was the second game in three days between the Finns and Americans. Finland had to rally from a 2-0 deficit to start the third period on Sunday.
Tuomo Ruutu and Janne Niskala also scored for Finland who advanced to their sixth semi-final since the current playoff format was introduced in 2000.
Ruutu scored on a backhand in the first period and Niskala hammered a one-timer past goalie Esche in the second to give Finland a two-goal lead at the end of the second.
But then late in the third period Kessel struck for the Americans. He started in his own zone and carried the puck up ice before passing it off at blueline to defenceman Tim Gleason.
Kessel carried on straight for the net and received the return pass which he redirected past Finnish netminder Niklas Backstrom.
Stafford scored shorthanded to level it 2-2 as the Finns bench fell silent.
"I hope we grow as a team and learn from this," Finns forward Saku Koivu said. "From here on we have to play like we did in the first two periods. We can´t get a lead, sit back and hope to win."
The last time the USA reached the semi-finals was 2004, when they won the bronze in Prague.
This was the 51st meeting between Finland and USA with the Finland holding a 27-17-7 advantage.
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