The first day of the Y17 Girls Bandy World Championship in Trollhättan delivered excellent bandy action, with enthusiastic Swedish, Finnish, and Norwegian supporters creating a fantastic atmosphere.
On Friday, the tournament’s official opening ceremony was held, featuring a performance of national anthems by the N3 youth choir and a speech by Trollhättan’s municipal executive board chairman, Peter Eriksson.
Intense match Day
Norway faced Finland in the tournament’s opening match on Friday morning. It was a tight and dramatic contest, much to the delight of the audience. Norway started strong, taking the lead through standout player Molly Johansson and nearly extending their advantage to 2-0 before Finland equalized at 1-1 through Jessica Kietäväinen in the 22nd minute, a score that remained until halftime.
Finland took control in the second half and won 4-2, with one of the goals scored by the match’s best player, Jenna Kastevaara, in an exciting encounter.
Sweden’s opening match against Finland ended in a convincing 8-1 victory, showcasing a strong Swedish performance. Nathalie Hjortenhed scored three goals, standing out among many excellent players in the Swedish squad. Finland’s goalkeeper, Varpu Koppelomäki, delivered an outstanding performance, keeping her team in the match for a long time.
Sweden’s second match of the tournament also ended in an 8-1 victory, with a spectacular display from Elin Palm, who not only scored six (!) goals but was also brilliant in overall play. Norway’s only goal came from a penalty by Molly Johansson at 7-0.
We now eagerly look forward to the second day of the championship, featuring several thrilling clashes on Saturday. First up is Sweden facing Finland, with kickoff at 10:00. We welcome the audience back to Slättbergshallen in Trollhättan.
Photo: Gert Holmér