An interception after a tipped ball gave Austria advanta ge in the beginning of the game. A good drive ended in the end zone after a pitch from QB Bernd Dittrich to Andrej Kliman and Austria took a lead tha twould not be threatend.
Swedens defenders were a head shorter than the Austrian WR and the DL could not put enough pressure on Dittrich. Also the next Austrian drive ended with a TD, this time on a nice pass to Michael Janik with just minutes left of the first quarter.
QB Michel Jenmert threw his second interception for the day and things did not look good for the swedes. On defens Sweden lacked aggressivness but the Austrian offens was also splended today. Next TD from Austria came from Thomas Haider who made an acrobatic catch in the end zone and it was goodbye Sweden.
The swedish offens started to play better when QB Anders Hermodsson entered the field and a successful fourth down try set up the TD from Tim Kolezar Olsson that found his way to the end zone. But the swedish joy was short when Austria very easy moved all over the field and Dittrich, Austrian MVP, made the half time score 28:7 after he himself ran for a TD and the 2 point conversion.
In the third quarter Austria ran with the ball more and Florian Hiess were the next man to score. A swedish fumble ended the next drive and also this turnover gave the austrians a TD, this time by Peter Tutsch.
With a comfortable lead Austria could play their second string players quite early. Swedish MVP Anders Hermodsson made a late TD in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately an injury occurred on the following extra point on swedish Andreas Karlsson whom had to be picked up by the ambulance but reports says that he is ok.
Final result 42:13 and there was big differences between the teams from the beginning to the end. 477 offensive yds for Austria says it all. HC Bernhard Binstorfer was pleased after the game and at the press conference he already looked forward to the 2008 Championship. Swedish HC Janne Jenmert was dissapointed and felt that his players wasn’t mentally in the game.
More pictures of the game can be fetched from photographer Cecilia Håkanssons homepage later on today or tomorrow at: www.cillen.com/ejc2006
/Garry Nilsson
