Finland threw the European Junior Championship Group B standings wide open with a come from behind 16-9 victory over Austria.
The win means that along with Germany’s second win of the tournament, three of the group’s four teams can still reach Sunday’s championship game.
After a scoreless first quarter, Austria took the lead through a 58-yard Andreas Stossier touchdown run and the same player converted the extra point to earn a 7-0 halftime lead. Eero Kaarlehto pulled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Miro Kadmiry, but Mika Kulmala’s two-point conversion attempt failed and Finland still trailed by a point.
Austria closed out the third quarter with a safety, but then the Finns produced ten unanswered fourth quarter points through a Matti Airaksinen 40-yard run and a 25-yard Kulmala field goal to claim victory.
The win leaves both Finland and Austria at 1-1 in the standings behind Germany (2-0) who proved too powerful for Denmark in a 20-7 win.
Quarterback Vasim Ohlerich opened a first quarter lead with a sneak into the end zone from a yard out and Paco Varol doubled Germany’s advantage with a 19-yard touchdown reception. Julian Ampaw wrapped up the win with a 48-yard scoring run before Yannick Rasmussen scored a consolation touchdown for Denmark on a 21-yard catch from Jesper Johnsen.
Group A action resumes on Wednesday with what is essentially a semi final when defending champion France takes on a Sweden team that is yet to concede a single point. The winner of the game that kicks off at 6pm in the Estadio C.A.R. Cartuja will advance to the Championship Game to face the winner of Group B on Sunday, July 20 at 5pm.
Russia and Spain meet in the day’s earlier game at 10.30am in the same stadium both seeking their first win of the European Junior Championship and a place in the fifth place playoff game on Saturday at 6pm.
