The Czech Republic used all 48 minutes in its 7-6 victory over Sweden.

Defending champion Sweden suffered its second loss of the 2003 IIHF In-Line Hockey World Championship in a 7-6 decision against the Czech Republic.  The loss means Sweden will finish in third place in Group A, while the Czech Republic will finish in second place.

The Czech Republic led 3-2 at the end of the first period after getting two power-play goals and one even strength goal. Ludek Broz, Albin Podstavek and Ondrej Vesely all scored for the Czechs in the first period.

Czech forward Pavel Beranek made it a two-goal lead at the 4:11 mark of the second period, but Sweden’s Nicklas Lindberg pulled his team to within one with just over a minute left in the half.

Sweden tied the game at four in the third period and went on to claim a 6-4 lead in the opening half of the fourth period after Andreas Svensson and Martin Thellander scored power-play goals. The Swede’s special teams faltered at the 7:24 mark, giving up a shorthanded goal. 

The Czech Republic carried the momentum from the shorthanded tally and tied the game at six with 1:05 left in the game. Ales Hemsky, the player responsible for the shorthanded goal, netted the game winner with 59 seconds left in the game.

The Czech Republic (2-1) will take on Slovakia (1-2) on Thursday, while Sweden (1-2) will face Germany.