Czechs celebrate extra time strike

Ecstatic Czech players celebrate after reaching the semifinals

RIGA, Latvia -- Zbynek Irgl's goal late in extra time gave the Czech Republic a dramatic 4-3 victory over Russia on Thursday, sending the titleholders into a world championship semifinal with Finland.

Irgl scored at 7:58 of the 10-minute extra period after evading two defensemen and beating Russia goalie Maxim Sokolov with a neat stickhandling move to knock previously unbeaten Russia out of the tournament.

The Czechs looked on their way to victory in regulation time until Alexei Mikhnov levelled with just 65 seconds left to send the game into extra time.

Mikhnov slipped in a rebound from close range following Vitaly Atyushov's shot from the point.

Veteran defenseman Petteri Nummelin set up two goals to lead Finland to a 3-0 shutout over Belarus in their quarterfinal.

Riku Hanl opened the scoring with an even-strength marker midway through the first period. Finland captain Ville Peltonen and Olli Jokinen added two more in the third to seal a comfortable victory for the Olympic silver medalists.

Nummelin, 33, playing in his 12th world championship, assited on the last two goals to take his points total to 10 -- top among defensemen at this tournament.

Belarus, a suprise package of this tournament after beating 2002 champions Slovakia and Switzerland early on, could do little to seriously challenge the disciplined Finns and break Fredrik Norrena's shutout.

Canada and Olympic champions Sweden booked their places in the last four on Wednesday.