July 29, (THEWILL) – Sweden confirmed their place in the knockout stages of the 2023 Women’s World Cup with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Italy, on Saturday.
The game was eagerly anticipated as both teams had previously won their opening matches and were vying for the top spot in Group G. For the first half-hour, the contest remained tight, but Sweden took control with three quick goals just before half-time, exploiting Italy’s vulnerability in defending set pieces.
It was nothing like the initial phase of the match, which witnessed a balanced back-and-forth, as Sweden seized the initiative after exposing Italy’s defensive weakness when they scored from a corner in the 39th minute. Amanda Ilestedt, who recently moved from Paris Saint-Germain to Arsenal, headed the Swedes in front. A fantastic goalkeeping effort from Francesca Durante prevented Sweden from scoring again shortly after, as she bravely intervened with a sliding tackle at the edge of the box, denying Stina Blackstenius a golden opportunity.
In the second half, Sweden continued their offensive onslaught, firmly establishing their dominance in the match. In the 50th minute, a corner, once again, proved to be Italy’s undoing, as Ilestedt outsmarted two defenders in the air to score her second goal. As the game approached its conclusion, Rebecka Blomqvist sealed Sweden’s resounding victory with a breakaway goal in injury time.
With this impressive performance, Sweden now finds themselves in a favourable position to lead Group G, while Italy remains in contention to progress, with hopes of securing their place in the knockout rounds depending on a victory against South Africa in their final group stage encounter.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
