Goals from Rolfö and Asllani neutralize the drive of the co-hosts (2-0)
MADRID, 19 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Swedish soccer team beat the Australian 2-0 this Saturday in the match for third place in the Women’s World Cup, which is being held in Australia and New Zealand, with a penalty converted by Fridolina Rolfö in the first half and with another Kosovare Asllani’s goal in the second act.
Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, the co-hosts of this tournament found themselves outclassed by the biggest trade of their adversaries. Not surprisingly, the first serious warning from the Swedish team came soon, by the work of Stina Blackstenius with a cross shot and from below that the ‘Aussie’ goalkeeper repelled well.
In the 23rd minute, Australia responded with a right foot from Hayley Raso that the rival goalkeeper deflected, after a cross to the far post that the brand new Real Madrid player took advantage of to control and connect with her powerful shot. However, Sweden’s response was not long in coming and also served to generate the initial goal.
Blackstenius got into the local area and rushed to the end line, having escaped from a rival defense; and just before he fell to the ground, he passed the ball to the right flank. There, his partner Asllani centered on Rolfö’s head, whose shot crashed off the crossbar. But the referee reviewed the fall of Blackstenius, sowing doubt.
After consulting the VAR, the Welsh ‘braid’ Cheryl Foster ordered a penalty when she interpreted that the slight contact of the Australian defender Clare Hunt had stumbled the Swedish ’11’. In this way, Rolfö did not waste the maximum penalty and put her team ahead with a low left-footed shot, close to the post.
With the dynamics of the game and the result in their favour, Peter Gerhardsson’s pupils knew how to take over the match and stifle any attempt at a comeback. In fact, halfway through the second part, the Scandinavians put the sentence as a result of a stolen ball in their own field. Quick on the counterattack, Asllani assisted Blackstenius to face the local defense.
But the ‘Aussies’ center-backs covered the gaps well, so Arsenal’s team fell back again to Asllani, who from the crown of the area connected a right-footed shot that lodged in the back of the net at mid-height; an unstoppable shot for a Mackenzie Arnold resigned to the evidence that Sweden had made the most of their attacks.
With almost no hassles until Cheryl Foster’s final whistle, the Swedish team temporized each action and secured the victory to win the World Cup bronze. This also meant the fourth time that Sweden managed to stay in third position; the previous ones were in the 1991, 2011 and 2019 World Cups.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: SWEDEN, 2 – AUSTRALIA, 0 (1-0, at halftime).
–LINE-UPS.
SUECIA: Musovic; Bjorn, Eriksson, Ilestedt, Andersson; Rubensson, Angeldal, Rolfö, Kaneryd (Sembrant, min.89), Asllani (Hurtig, min.67); y Blackstenius (Blomqvist, min.67).
AUSTRALIA: Arnold; Carpenter (Nevin, min.74), Hunt, Polkinghorne (Chidiac, min.74), Catley; Raso (Vine, min.60), Gorry (Van Egmond, min.60), Cooney-Cross, Foord; Kerr y Fowler.
–GOALS.
1-0, 30 minutes: Rolfö (p).
2-0, minute 62: Asllani.
–REFEREE: Cheryl Foster (GAL). She yellow carded Rubensson (min.88) and Hurtig (min.90 + 4) in Sweden, and Gorry (min.45 + 1) in Australia.
–STADIUM: Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane (Australia), 49,461 spectators.