Team USA lose to Germany in Overtime at the World Floorball Championships

In the second game of the play offs, playing for the 9th place game, Team USA faced off against Germany. A Germany that
lost in a penalty shootout against Denmark the night before. Once again USA where the underdogs facing a team that came in fourth only two years ago. A team missing many stars but still a very strong German squad.

The game startes at a fast pace. The Germans choosing a man on man offensive pressure across the entire court. Something the
US team often handle well.  Despite Germany getting a power play opportunity after only a minute it would be the US that strikes first. Mattias Hansen finds the top corner after 6:49 of the first period. With about five minutes left of the first the German's
retaliate making it 1-1.

In the second the American team once again take control as captain Kalle Förare give the US a 2-1 lead. But the Germans
are a resilient team and make it 2-2 not long after.  They would also take the lead 2-3 after 14:07 of the second but the
US team have started to get their speed up and Robin Brown makes it 3-3 before the end of the second period. Keven Glanzmann
continues to show of his reflexes taking care of those chances that find their way past the US shot blockers.

In the third the US come out with confidence but by the halfway mark of the period the Germans are up by two, 3-5.
Knowing the Germans had the same situation against Denmark, leading by two in the third, the US players have no doubt they
will turn this around.

After 10:56 Mattias Hansen strikes again, 4-5. And with just over three minutes to go Alexander McVey finds the net, making it 5-5 and his teammates explode in happiness.  Despite a couple good chances in the end of the period the game goes to overtime.

In overtime the Germans are once again given a chance at playing power play, their third. The US box play stands the test
but just as they reach full strength the Germans are able to score the wining goal, 5-6 through Alexander Burmeister,
his second of the game.

The US team keeps stepping up their game and did so again today. A great effort by a great team! This means that we will get a North American clash in team USA's final game of the World Floorball Championships. Team USA will face Canada at 14:00 CET tomorrow Friday. The game can be seen live here.

Game statistics can be found here.

Photos by Jussi Panula.