Team Sweden edges the Great Britain Lions in international friendly

Team Sweden used a last second defensive stand to hold off the GB Lions for a 15-12 victory in an international friendly game played in Gothenburg, Sweden Saturday.

In unusually balmy fall sunshine, the Swedes built up a 15-6 lead in the first half and then held on to beat a Great Britain team that had reached the Swedish 10 yard line when time expired. For Team Sweden, it was an important victory following an embarrassing 37-0 loss to Finland a week ago.

Team Sweden head coach Andreas Ehrenreich:

“I felt like we got our playmakers into the game in a completely different way than in last week’s game.”

Swedish quarterback Jonathon Andersson completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards and one touchdown while Jonathan Gihl scored a rushing touchdown. Jakob Dahre scored on a 25 yard touchdown pass.

Great Britain’s quarterback Jerome Allen threw for 210 yards and a touchdown to wide receiver James Cherry while W. Davis scored on a three yard run.

Great Britain stunned the Swedes on their opening possession as Allen marched his team on an 11 play 68 yard drive that ate up almost five minutes on the clock. Davis plunged into the end zone from three yards out to give the Lions a 6-0 lead.

Sweden responded two series later as the defense forced an Allen fumble at the Lions 33 yard line and then Andersson found Dahre for a 25 yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt was good and the Swedes took the lead 7-6.

The Swedish defense forced a Great Britain safety on the next possession and Sweden extended the lead to 9-6 to end the first quarter. Gihl capped a 55 yard drive on Team Sweden’s next series with an 11 yard touchdown run and Sweden added to its lead, 15-6. early in the second quarter.

Great Britain had the best chance to score again in the first half as Allen engineered an 18 play, 72 yard drive which reached the Swedish 15 yard line. A field goal attempt was blocked however, and Sweden went into the break, still holding a 15-6 lead.

Neither team could muster much offense in the third quarter but a blocked field goal proved timely for Great Britain. A Swedish field goal attempt from the Lions 33 yard line was blocked and returned all the way to the Swedish 18 yard line. Allen wasted no time, connecting with James Cherry for an 11 yard touchdown pass five plays later narrowing the lead to 15-12.

Again, both offenses struggled until, with less than two minutes left, Allen moved his team smartly down the field starting from his own 33 yard line down to the Swedish 10 yard line after Sweden was called for back-to-back penalties (too many men on the field and pass interference). But with no time left, Allen threw an incomplete pass as he was getting sacked ending the game and sending the Swedish players and fans home happy.

Photos: Yamamoto Shinji