A THREE-GOAL blitz just before halftime helped Sweden to a dominant 5-0 win over Italy in Wellington yesterday as they booked their spot from Group G in the Women’s World Cup knockout stage with a match to spare.
Amanda Ilestedt scored the first of her two goals in the 39th minute when she got up well to head home Jonna Andersson’s corner and further efforts from Fridolina Rolfo and Stina Blackstenius inside seven minutes ended the match as a contest.
Centre half Ilestedt found the net once again shortly after halftime – her third of the tournament – and substitute Rebecka Blomqvist completed the rout in stoppage time.
Italy dominated possession early on but could not deal with the Swedish aerial threat at corners and the 2003 runners-up handed them their worst defeat in a World Cup match.
The Italians had all the early pressure and Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic was forced into action to save forward Sofia Cantore’s shot in the first minute and another from the Juventus forward in the 17th.
Sweden gradually worked their way into the game and Ilestedt’s first goal flung open the floodgates.
Rolfo got her second goal of the campaign five minutes later with a flick off her knee from close range as the Italian defence struggled to deal with another corner.
The third goal came from open play in first half stoppage time when Johanna Kaneryd broke down the right flank and crossed the ball to Blackstenius in the middle for the striker to finish.
Ilestedt’s second goal in the 50th minute was a carbon copy of the first, as the Arsenal defender headed another into the net off a corner from Andersson.
The last Sweden goal came at the end of the match when Blomqvist raced clear of the Italian defenders and buried the ball in the bottom left corner of the net.
Italy can still advance to the last 16 by avoiding defeat in their final fixture against South Africa on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in Group F matches in Australia, France and Jamaica edged their opponents Brazil and Panama, respectively, to keep their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages.
Captain Wendie Renard’s header seven minutes from time earned France a dramatic 2-1 win over Brazil at Brisbane’s Lang Park as Herve Renard’s side picked up their first win in the group.
The defender met Selma Bacha’s corner with a firm downward header that bounced back up off the turf and beyond goalkeeper Leticia to give the French all three points after opening their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica last Sunday.
France move onto four points from their first two games, one point ahead of a Brazilian side who had kicked off the tournament with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Panama.
Le Sommer, France’s all-time leading scorer, gave her side the perfect start in the 17th minute, moments after seeing Leticia keep out her first effort at full stretch.
It took until the 58th minute for Pia Sundhage’s side to equalise, with Debinha pouncing to calmly slot beyond Pauline Peyraud-Magnin after Kerolin’s initial attempt was deflected into the striker’s path by Le Sommer.
In Perth, Jamaica defender Allyson Swaby scored from a sharp header to steer her side to a 1-0 win against Panama.
Panama cannot progress ahead of France and Jamaica who lead Group F with four points.
In a scoreless first half, Jamaica dominated in attack and continually kept Panama goalkeeper Yenith Bailey busy, peppering the goal without success.
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