Chiho Osawa and Nieminen have played for three seasons in the same club in Luleå, Sweden.
The number one chain winger Petra Nieminen loaded three beautiful goals as the Lions banged a 7-1 win from Japan in the semi-finals of the Beijing Olympics.
The match ended in tears for the Japanese. Nieminen hurried to comfort the Japanese captain Chiho Osawaawith which the loss went to emotions as to others.
“The captain is from Luleå our old teammate for three years. Yes, the emotions rose to the surface when I saw that another was annoying, ”said Nieminen, referring to Osava, who played a total of four seasons in Luleå HF.
“Let’s be good friends.”
Nieminen thought the sensitive feelings were due to Japan entering a good heartbeat in the game but getting a meager result.
“The only annoyance was how he went and went to tell him he was leading the team.”
“He was really taken that we came to tell him about it. He does not quite understand how big a role he is in the Japanese team, ”Nieminen said of the emotional moment.
Osawa said that Finnish warm gestures warmed the heart.
“I told them (Finns) that hopefully they will win their next match.” Osawa said after the match.
For Nieminen scoring was very important as he had played without hits so far despite high expectations.
“Yes, it feels good to get paint and paint for myself. It was a bit difficult in the first series, and when there is a scorer, it does warm the mind a bit. ”
When Nieminen got up to speed, he only scored spectacular goals with shots in the upper corners. In terms of accuracy, the shots would even qualify for the upcoming U.S. semi-finals.
“Paint like paint, but it’s nice to make even great paints.”
Japan was left with big numbers, but Nieminen believed the match had prepared the team for a much tougher US game.
“I believe our team, if we play at that level, not an awful lot of us will win.
Nieminen expected goals for themselves in the first four matches of the Olympic tournament. Despite a tough effort, the puck did not snap into place.
A monkey or even a gorilla could hurt his back, as is often said in team sports.
“Quite a little, but yes we knew with our field that yes it will come from there.”
Finland will face the United States in the semi-finals on Monday. Canada and Switzerland will play in the second semi-final.
Subscribe to the Olympics free newsletter hs.fi/newsletters
Read all the Olympic stuff at hs.fi/olympics
#Hockey #Japanese #captain #burst #tears #Petra #Nieminen #hurried #comfort #Emotions #rose #surface
