Sweden breathes a sigh of relief! The co-favorite for the title defeated the outsiders from South Africa on Sunday (July 23, 2023) in his opening game at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
After trailing 1-0, the 2019 World Cup bronze medalist turned the game around in group G and won 2-1 in front of 18,317 spectators at the Wellington Regional Stadium. South Africa remains without a point in their fourth World Cup game.
Hildah Magaia gave South Africa the lead after the break after a goalless first half and an own goal of all things gave the Swedes an equaliser. Lebohang Ramalepe deflected the ball into his own goal. Shortly before the end of regular time, Amanda Ilestedt sweden headed into the first lucky.
The Swedish coach Peter Gerhardsson was not satisfied with the performance. He could understand the nervousness, he said after the game, but called for more courage. “It’s not the way we wanted to start the World Cup, but the three points are important,” agreed striker Stina Blackstenius, who went into hiding for long stretches.
Sweden: Oldies first on the bench
Gerhardsson did without a lot of experience at the start. Caroline Seger (235 caps), who was plagued by injuries, Linda Sembrant (134 caps), Sofia Jakobsson (144 caps) and Olivia Schough (105 caps) experienced the first game from the bench and watched their teammates take the helm in ten degrees and drizzle in New Zealand’s capital Wellington.
Dangerous needlesticks South African women
It quickly became clear: Outsiders South Africa were lurking for moments of change and let the Swedes have the ball. The Olympic bronze medalists had more field advantages and also the better playing system, but the more dangerous attacks were recorded by the courageous South Africans, who particularly impressed with their speed. When Sweden’s defender Jonna Andersson miscalculated after a diagonal ball, Kholosa Biyana took aim too hastily and missed the goal by a wide margin (6′). A little later, Retiloe Jane (16′) tried a chip that landed on the goal net and Jermaine Seoposenwe also lacked precision with her long-range shot (30′).
Sweden is struggling
Sweden struggled to build up the game and seldom got into good finishing situations against the alert Africans, with many crosses going nowhere and South Africa defending vigilantly. South Africa’s keeper Kaylin Swart had to help with the first good chance. After an input, Swart steered the ball just wide of the post with an unsuccessful save (32′).
Otherwise, many of the Scandinavians’ attacks fizzled out because the last ball didn’t fit and “Banyana Banyana” defended compactly. The top attackers Stina Blackstenius and Fridolina Rolfö were almost completely unregistered. Only in the final phase did the chances increase. Central defender Amanda Ilestedt headed wide twice and Elin Rubensson’s long-range shot from 20 meters went just wide of the right corner.
Dissatisfied with the performance of her team: The Swede Stina Blackstenius.
First a bang, then an own goal
After the change, Sweden was caught off guard. South Africa used the first attack to take the lead. Hildah Magaia dusted off to make it 1-0. At least 50 percent of the goal went to star striker Thembi Kgatlana. The only 1.55 meter tall, but lightning fast attacker fooled her opponent Ilestedt and came to an end. Keeper Zećira Mušović could only five high fives and Magaia reacted in the blink of an eye. Bitter: The goal scorer was injured in the action and had to be replaced.
And what did Sweden do? Not much at first. The “Damlandslaget” remained too often too unimaginative and unimaginative – and needed a few minutes to recover from the shock. Ironically, an own goal brought the favorites back into the game. Lebohang Ramalepe deflected the ball into his own goal after an input from Johanna Kaneryd: 1:1 (65th). The equalizer in the Swedish team did not solve blockades, and the triple change did not cause any creative fireworks either. Instead, everything stayed the same: Sweden had more possession, but could not get past half-chances.
It only became dangerous after stationary balls, where Ilestedt used her air superiority, but her headers lacked accuracy. Up to the 90th minute – then the ball wriggled in the net after a corner for a deserved 2-1 win.
Seger writes history
Things got emotional ten minutes before the end when Caroline Seger came on and broke several records. She is the first Swedish player to have played in five World Cups. From Europe, only Birgit Prinz had done that before. At 38 years and 126 days she is also the oldest Swedish player to ever play at a World Cup.
Caroline Seger breaks records.
The next games in Group G
Sweden’s World Cup journey continues on Thursday (07/29/2023/9:30 a.m. CEST) against Italy. South Africa will have to deal with Argentina a day earlier (07/28/2023, 2 a.m. CEST).