World Cup Quarterfinals: Americans and Czechs Break Out

Two teams given up for a dead a few days ago have found their way into the semifinals of the 2004 World Cup.

The USA and the Czech Republic saved their best for the today's quarterfinal games. The Czechs trashed Sweden 6-1 before a jeering crowd in Stockholm, while four goals from Keith Tkachuk led the Americans to a 5-3 win over Russia.

The frustration continues for Russia and Sweden. Despite producing some of the world's greatest players, both countries have been underachievers in recent international play.

The quarterfinals conclude Wednesday, with Slovakia playing Canada.

The Russians were too fast and too creative for the Americans in Thursday's 3-1 win. But a slower, more careful pace paid off for Team USA in the rematch. The focus was on containing forwards like Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexei Kovalev, and waited for chances. The chances came from numerous weak plays by Russian defensemen like Dmitri Kalinin and Sergei Gonchar.

The U.S. watched a 2-0 lead disappear on Russian goals by Dmitry Afanasenkov and Dainus Zubrus. But Tkachuk and Scott Gomez scored 22 seconds apart in the third period to put the game out of reach. Ilya Kovalchuk scored a power play goal with about nine minutes remaining, which was as close as Russia could get.

Tkachuk scored three goals from within a few feet of the crease, tipping in a Mike Modano shot and converting passes from Bill Guerin and Scott Gomez. Tkachuk also set up Gomez' goal and scored into an empty net.

It is now 11 years since Russia won a world or Olympic championship.

Czechs Shock Sweden With a Blowout Win

Like the Americans, the Czechs managed just one win in three games during the preliminary round of the tournament. But they look convincing in picking apart the Swedes. Goaltending was said to be the weakness on an otherwise loaded Swedish team, and today's five goals against Mikael Tellqvist confirmed that. But he played better than most of his disorganized, sluggish team mates.

Sweden showed no commitment to the physical game and played into the hands of a disciplined opponent. The Czechs played a classic defense-first game, stifling the Swedish forwards and grabbing turnovers for quick counterattacks. Four of the Czech goals were scored or set up by two-on-one rushes.

Milan Hejduk scored twice, while Martin Straka, Martin Havlat, Marek Zidlicky and Radek Dvorak also scored for the Czechs. Toma Holmstrom added a late goal for Sweden.

Despite lineups that often include names like Forsberg, Naslund, Sundin and Lidstrom, Sweden has not won a major international title since the 1998 World Championship.

Semifinal matchups will not be determined until all quarterfinal games are completed. But if the Canada defeats Slovakia, it will be Canada against the Czechs on Saturday and Finland against the USA on Friday.

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