Finland clinched the Men's Indoor Band World Championship title by overcoming Sweden with a thrilling 5-4 victory after overtime, marking their fifth championship win overall.
Held at the Malmö Arena, the championship match unfolded dramatically as Finland, once trailing 4-0, mounted a stunning comeback to secure the title.
Sweeden's start was spectacular, quickly putting them on the scoreboard with three goals within the first period. Albin Sjögren opened the scoring just four minutes and forty seconds with the first goal, followed by Johan Samuelsson and Emil Johansson securing two more, leaving the score at 3-0 at the end of the first period.
The second period saw no signs of slowing down for Sweden as Malte Lundmark added a fourth just after the period commenced, extending their lead to 4-0. Many spectators believed Sweden was on course for their third consecutive world title.
Yet, as the saying goes, it’s not over until it’s over. Finland, facing despair, began to claw back when Justus Kainulainen scored two quick goals, leaving Sweden's solid start overshadowed by missed opportunities and growing pressure.
“We were really bad in the first period,” said Miska Mäkinen, who would eventually score the winning goal. “After going down 0-4, we had no choice but to fight back.”
By the end of the third period, Finland had leveled the score at 4-4, with Aaro Astala completing the comeback. Just as it seemed Sweden would regain control, they lost momentum with some defensive mistakes, which Finland capitalized on.
Robin Nilsberth of Sweden lamented after the match, “We seemed to fear the game after our strong start. We couldn’t continue like we did at the beginning, and we handed over momentum to Finland.”
With the game tied, the atmosphere became electric as fans braced for the intensity of overtime. The teams traded chances, and Sweden managed to hit the crossbar late on, as Nilsberth expressed frustration over the squandered opportunity, commenting, “It’s sport. I’ve had my share of luck before, but this time it wasn’t to be.”
Just as exhaustion began to show, Miska Mäkinen found the net, scoring the decisive goal just moments before the end of overtime. This last-minute effort was enough to send Finland’s supporters erupting with joy as they took home the gold. “This is one of the best experiences one can have,” said coach Esa Jussila. “All players sacrificed time and effort to get to this point.”
Finland’s remarkable victory is not only a personal achievement for the players but also serves as redemption, having last tasted world title glory back in 2018. Jussila, now winning as coach after previously capturing championships as a player, reflected on the tremendous pressure they faced and the ultimate reward of their hard work.
It was also bittersweet for Sweden, as they must now ponder how they allowed such a commanding lead to slip away. They faced the challenge of re-establishing themselves as champions after winning previous finals. The defeat hit hard with key players acknowledging their need to reassess everything moving forward.
The match between these two long-time rivals reinforced both the excitement and unpredictability of indoor bandy, where momentum can shift dramatically. Finland not only celebrated victory but did so with the pride of having risen from their own ashes.
With their latest triumph, Finland will now look forward to defending their crown at the next World Championship, scheduled to be held within the next two years back home. Sadly, for Sweden, it’s back to the drawing board and preparation for the challenge of reclaiming their status as top contenders on the world stage.
“One of the biggest highs for me was seeing the team’s spirit and determination,” said Jussila. “This is the essence of what makes sport beautiful; you can experience both the best and the worst moments.”
