Winter Olympics: Finland beat OAR 3-2 to claim women's ice hockey bronze

Riikka Valila (left) represented Finland at the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics

Riikka Valila became the oldest ice hockey medallist at a Winter Olympics as Finland took bronze - 20 years after she first won a medal.

The Finns, who led 2-0, beat the Olympic athletes from Russia 3-2 to finish third in Pyeongchang.

Valila, 44, won bronze at the 1998 Games in Nagano and retired in 2003, but competed in Sochi in 2014.

Wednesday's victory brought Finland a fourth medal of the 2018 Games and their third women's hockey bronze.

They raced ahead before Olga Sosina responded for OAR midway through the second period.

Linda Valimaki extended Finland's lead and, despite a third-period goal from OAR, they held on to secure bronze.

OAR coach Alexei Chistyakov said he hoped the team's success would help change negative attitudes towards women's hockey in Russia.

"I think that the games the girls played here as they fought for their country will nudge this male mentality and turn it upside down, at least among part of the population," he said.

Four-time defending champions Canada play the United States in the gold-medal match on Friday.

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Czech Republic continue unbeaten run

In the men's competition, the United States lost their quarter-final against the Czech Republic 3-2 in a penalty shootout, while the Olympic athletes from Russia easily overcame Norway 6-1.

Czech Petr Koukal scored the only goal in the shootout as goaltender Pavel Francouz kept out the Americans' five efforts.

"It was our dream before the tournament to go this far, but I really hope it's not the end," he said.

The Czech team go on to face the Russians - who are targeting their first Olympic ice hockey title in 26 years - on Friday.