By Samindra Kunti in Hamilton
August 2 – Sweden wrapped up the group stages with a routine 2-0 victory against Argentina to finish top of Group G and maintain an unbeaten record ahead of their showdown with defending champions the United States in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup.
South Africa created history by progressing after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Italy.
The Scandinavians were hardly at their best, but dominant enough to keep their perfect record in the competition intact with three wins from three following second-half goals by Rebecka Blomqvist and Elin Rubensson, a welcome victory before they take on the Americans, who had arrived at the tournament as the bookies’ favourites.
Sweden made a plethora of changes from their 5-0 win over Italy and enjoyed the bulk of possession against the South Americans, but without Jonna Andersson’s deliveries from set pieces, they lacked a cutting edge in the final third. In the 19th minute, Olivia Schough’s free-kick was claimed by Argentinian goalkeeper Vanina Correa. It was about the only danger in the entire first half in a game for defenders that quickly descended into a scrap.
In the 57th minute, with the rain lashing down in a cold Hamilton, Argentina’s Estafani Banini cut in from the left and shot, but perhaps passing would have been the better idea. The introduction of Lina Hurtig and Linda Sembrant helped to improve Sweden’s urgency in attack and with their first slick move of the game they carved open Argentina’s defence, striker Blomqvist finding the breakthrough from a few yards with a header. In the final minutes of the match, Rubensson ensured Sweden’s victory from the penalty spot.
With a single point from two matches, Argentina’s implausible route to the knockout stages had always been a pipe dream and in the other group game, with everything at stake, South Africa and Italy played out a thriller in Wellington that the inevitable Thembi Kagtlana settled with a 91st-minute strike, prompting ecstatic scenes and tears in the South African camp after 16 minutes of injury time.
Their first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup was enough for qualification and a date with the Netherlands in the round of 15.
“You can never count out the USA,” said Sofia Jakobsson. “They have not yet got their attacking players to score goals. They have fantastic players. They have been in the tournament in these games many, many times and they have won the World Cup the last two times, so even if their game has not been fully 100%, it will be super tough to play against them.”
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