REUTERS - Holders Russia grabbed a fortuitous late goal to beat United States 3-2 in their world ice hockey championship semi-final on Friday.

The Russians next face Canada, 3-1 winners over Sweden, on Sunday in a repeat of last year's final which they won 5-4 in overtime on Canadian soil.

Canada, helped by two goals from Derek Roy, sealed their sixth final appearance in seven years.

Konstantin Gorovikov unwittingly scored Russia's winner with 1:47 left when Alexander Radulov's shot hit his leg and flew past U.S. netminder Robert Esche.

Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and an assist and Alexander Frolov also scored for Russia. Dustin Brown and Kyle Okposo replied for the U.S.

"I thought we played very well, we weren't very lucky on two of the goals when shots which were going wide hit somebody," U.S. coach Ron Wilson told a news conference.

"The winning goal went in off a leg. It wasn't our goalkeeper's fault at all. I'm very proud of the team for the effort we gave."

Wilson's opposite number Slava Bykov said: "It was a hard game and we are really happy to be in the final."

SEVERAL SAVES

Esche made several good saves in the first period as the Russians took the game to the Americans but it was the U.S. who drew first blood.

Three minutes into the second period Brown grabbed a sloppy pass by Vitali Atyushov and outfoxed goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to open the scoring.

Kovalchuk levelled eight minutes later with a slapshot following a faceoff in the U.S. end, then set up Russia's second when he fired a shot which deflected off Frolov and into the net.

Okposo equalised for the U.S. less than two minutes before the end of the second period, firing a cross-ice pass from John-Michael Liles past the helpless Bryzgalov.

Both teams had chances in a tense final period until Gorovikov won it for Russia.

The U.S. took off their netminder for the last minute and Patrick O'Sullivan fired high and wide with seven seconds to play.

In the second match, Martin St Louis set up Canada's first for Roy after six minutes before they effectively killed the game when Shawn Horcoff and Roy scored within a minute of each other midway through the second period.

Loui Eriksson pulled one back in the third period as Canada sat back and soaked up the pressure.