IFAF U19 Euros: Sweden sneaks by Finland in overtime thriller to advance to gold medal final

Sweden set up a winner-takes-all final game against Austria for the 2024/25 IFAF U19 European Championships title with a 24-21 overtime win over Finland on Saturday.

A 30-yard Oscar Hardarsson field goal proved decisive in the extra period at the Bergshamra IP in Stockholm, but it was Sweden’s defense that proved the difference in a tight game.

Sweden will travel to the Football Zentrum in Innsbruck on Sunday, September 21, hoping to dethrone the six-time defending champion Austrians and win a first Euros crown having finished as runners up in 2019 and 2022. Finland is out of contention and will take the bronze medal with an 0-2 final stages record.

Finland’s offense stalled early in the game, but the visitors still took a first quarter lead when quarterback Elias Haapamäki found receiver Ami Lindfors in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown and Noa Nieminen tagged on the extra point. Earlier on the drive, a 75-yard pass from Haapamäki to Hermanni Raitanen, who took the ball down the left sideline to the end zone, was called back for a blindside block.

The head coach of three-time champion Finland Toni Uusitalo had warned against repeating the mistakes that had led to a 41-14 defeat against Austria last month and it was a Finland error that squandered a chance to double the lead. After Jyri Jääskä recovered squib kick at Sweden’s 29-yard mark, another Haapamäki to Raitanen connection took the ball to within four yards of pay dirt, but the quarterback fumbled away possession and Filip Mökander recovered.

Then early in the second quarter, Haapamäki was intercepted with a receiver wide open in end zone and on the next possession, Raitanen fumbled and the disruptive Mökander came up with his second recovery.

Jääskä intercepted Swedish quarterback Fabian Opitz, but the offense was unable to take advantage before a punt blocked by Caj Ekström and recovered by Conor Nethercott at the 22-yard line set up the tying score. Despite colliding with his quarterback, Edgar Wallén found the end zone and Hardarsson tagged on the extra point for a 7-7 halftime score.

After the break, two more turnovers ended promising Finland drives. MVP Benjamin Kennedy Chaanhing came up with a strip sack and then Haapamäki was picked off over the middle by Leo Sundman. Sweden moved the ball down to their opponents’ two-yard line where Wallén dove into the end zone for his second touchdown and the hosts led 14-7.

A 28-yard TD run by Konsta Mäenpää put Finland back on level terms in the fourth quarter, but then the home defense snatched the lead. Haapamäki was sacked by Kennedy Chaanhing and coughed the ball straight into the hands of linebacker Adrian Söderqvist, who raced away for a touchdown and a seven-point advantage.

Penalties and a kickoff out of bounds meant Finland took over at midfield with 1.08 to play and they left it until third down with only 36 seconds remaining for Haapamäki to find Lindfors for a 4-yard touchdown. Nieminen held his nerve despite a high snap to split the uprights and force overtime.

Finland even had a chance to seal victory during the final 15 seconds of regulation time after Juho Kasari produced an interception with Sweden going for broke, but the home defense held.

Sweden again denied Finland during the extra period, setting up the decisive 30-yard field goal from Hardarsson.

IFAF U19 European Championships Medal Games

Sunday, April 20: Finland 14 Austria 41
Saturday, May 10: Sweden 24 Finland 21 (OT)
Sunday, September 21: Austria (1-0) vs Sweden (1-0), Football Zentrum, Innsbruck, 1pm CET