Team Finland advances to IFAF European Championship final with solid win over Sweden

Finland progressed to the final of the 2023 IFAF European Championships in men’s tackle football with a 33-14 victory over Scandinavian rivals Sweden in Vantaa, Finland on Saturday.

With the win, Finland will now face Austria in the championship final.

The Finns established what proved to be an unassailable 19-point halftime lead as Miro Kadmiry threw for three first half touchdowns, with one in each of the first two quarters to Johannes Jauhiainen and a third of 19 yards to Asko Mantymaki. Kadmiry ended the game with 12 passes completed for 185 yards and three touchdowns, while receiver Kimi Linnainmaa reeled in five passes for 75 yards.

Sweden got on the board through a 48-yard Alexander Kennedy Chaanhing run and reduced the deficit to 19-14 early in the fourth quarter as Kasper Wedberg scored on a 14-yard run and Alvin Gustafsson added his second extra point of the day.

Sweden’s comeback was short-lived as Luukas Eerola returned the resulting kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and Finland sealed victory with a 10-yard scoring rush from Micky Kyei.

The Swedes will face Italy for the bronze medal after the Italians lost in the other semifinal to Team Austria.

Original text by Michael Preston