Sweden vs Australia | Sweden snatched third place in the World Cup from Australia.
The Swedes won the “small final” 2-0. England and Spain will face off in the final on Sunday.
Sweden secured third place at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Coach Peter Gerhardsson’s team defeated the hosts from Australia 2-0 (1-0) in Brisbane. The Swedish team had achieved their best result so far in 2003 when they finished second in the World Cup and finished third for the fourth time after 1991, 2011 and 2019.
The goals for the Swedes were scored in front of 49,461 spectators by Fridolina Rolfö with a converted penalty (30th) and Kosovare Asllani in the 62nd minute with a brilliant shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Finale on Sunday live on ZDF
Spain and England will face off in the World Cup final on Sunday. The match at Australia Stadium in Sydney will kick off at 12pm CEST. ZDF broadcasts the game live.
Australian women wanted to ‘leave a legacy’
Australia’s World Cup heroes, who sparked huge euphoria in the country during the tournament, were desperate to finish third after a disappointing semi-final defeat by England’s European champions (1-3) to “really leave a legacy” (Kerr).
But the Swedes, who flew to Down Under with great ambitions, also had something to make up for after the close 2-1 loss to Spain.
Better start for Sweden
The Scandinavians also got off to a better start, with Arsenal FC’s Stina Blackstenius testing Mackenzie Arnold in the first minute of the Australian goal. In general, Sweden remained the more dangerous team in the early stages, it was not until the 18th minute before the hosts scored the first goal through Hayley Raso.
The then more courageous “Matildas” were suddenly shocked in the 28th minute. After Blackstenius went down in the Australian penalty area, referee Cheryl Foster from Wales decided on a penalty after viewing the video images, Rolfö shot safely from the point.
Vain running of the hostesses
Australia then ran in vain, Kerr’s powerful shot with the half-time whistle went too central and posed no problem for goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, nor did Clare Hunt’s shot from close range (70′). After Asllani’s dream goal from the edge of the box, Sweden focused on defense and made occasional counterattacks. Until the final whistle on the offensive, the “Matildas” mostly remained too harmless to pose a threat to Sweden.
After all was said and done, two Bundesliga players celebrated for the Swedes: Bayern rookie Magdalena Eriksson shined in central defense. After about an hour, VfL Wolfsburg’s Rebecka Blomqvist came on.
