Ice Hockey World Championship: Denmark sensationally beats Canada in the quarterfinals

The Danish national team sensationally defeated Canada at the Ice Hockey World Championship. Two late goals against superstar Sidney Crosby and Co. resulted in one of the biggest upsets in World Championship history in the co-hosts' 2-1 victory in Herning. Switzerland, who decisively defeated Austria, now awaits in the semifinals in Stockholm. The USA and hosts Sweden will face off in the second semifinal.

Canada was stumped by Denmark's goalkeeper Frederik Dichow for a long time in the 1-2 (0-0, 0-0, 1-2) defeat. The goalkeeper also frustrated Germany's international on Tuesday in a 2-1 penalty shootout victory that sent national coach Harold Kreis's team out of the group stage.

After Travis Sanheim's goal, everything looked like a victory for the heavy favorites (46th minute). But, just as he had against Germany, the first NHL star to join the team at the beginning of the week, Nicolaj Ehlers, equalized for the Northern Europeans (58th minute). Nick Olesen scored the much-celebrated winner with 49 seconds remaining in front of 10,500 fans.

Host Sweden impressed with a 5-2 (3-0, 1-1, 1-1) victory against world champions Czech Republic and remains hopeful of a World Cup coup on home soil. Leo Carlsson of the NHL team Anaheim Ducks and Lukas Raymond, teammate of German Hockey League captain Moritz Seider on the Detroit Red Wings, scored twice for Sweden.

Austria had absolutely no chance against Switzerland in their first quarterfinal appearance since 1994. Coach Roger Bader's team suffered a resounding 6-0 (0-3, 0-2, 0-1) defeat in front of 2,621 spectators in Herning. Switzerland, on the other hand, can still hope for its first World Cup title. Coach Patrick Fischer's team last lost to the Czech Republic in the final last year.

The USA advanced to the semifinals with a decisive victory over Finland and will face hosts Sweden. The US boys delivered a convincing 5-2 (1-1, 2-1, 2-0) victory, keeping their composure even when they were down 2-1 at one point.

RND/dpa