After the intense opening game against the Netherlands, Sweden desperately needed a win. But Switzerland became a tough opponent.
Sweden took a big step towards the quarter-finals at the women’s European Football Championship in England. The Olympic silver medalist won his second group game in Sheffield 2-1 (0-0) against Switzerland on Wednesday and has four points to progress. The Swiss have to worry about the knockout phase with just one point.
Former Munich player and Wolfsburg player Fridolina Rolfö (53rd) gave the Swedes the lead in front of 12,914 spectators at Bramall Lane. Ramona Bachmann (55′) equalized just two minutes later, but Hanna Bennison (79′) shot the Swedes to victory.
The Confederates, who had been struggling with a violent gastrointestinal wave in the team in the past few days, got into the game better. A supposed penalty after a foul on Noelle Maritz was withdrawn after the video assistant intervened (9′). Sweden, the first women’s European champion in 1984, got stronger as a result without becoming really dangerous.
After the change of sides, the Scandinavians increased the pressure and were rewarded with Rolfö, who put in a free-standing shot from close range. But Switzerland answered immediately: Bachmann equalized after a mistake by goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl. The Swedes rallied briefly before Bennison scored the winner with a brilliant long-range shot. Shortly before the end, the video assistant called again and recognized Sweden’s supposed 3:1.