Women's World Cup: Sweden wins Group G against Italy 5-0, advances to last 16.
Posted : 29 July 2023
Sweden showcased their dominance in a Group G clash against Italy, securing a resounding victory to advance to the last 16 of the Women's World Cup with one game still to play.
The Swedish team, semifinalists in the 2019 edition, demonstrated their strength as they scored three goals in quick succession at the end of the first half. Amanda Ilestedt opened the scoring with a well-placed header from Jonna Andersson's corner.
Fridolina Rolfo, a recent addition to Arsenal and a Champions League winner with Barcelona, extended the lead with a goal from her knee after another corner. Stina Blackstenius, another Arsenal player, added a third with a close-range finish.
In the second half, Ilestedt once again found the back of the net, scoring her third goal of the tournament with a header from yet another corner. Substitute Rebecka Blomqvist completed the rout with the fifth goal in stoppage time.
Sweden's impressive display was commended by their coach, Peter Gerhardsson, who praised the players' performance. Andersson's corners proved to be a potent weapon for the team, and her two assists in this match set a record for a Sweden player in a single Women's World Cup game.
With this convincing victory, Sweden secured their spot in the knockout stage and will face either the United States, the Netherlands, or Portugal in the next round.
Despite their previous clean sheets, Italy faced a tough challenge from Sweden and will now need to defeat South Africa in their final group game to ensure their progress in the tournament. The Italian team's defending from corners came under scrutiny, and they will need to work on their mental strength for the upcoming crucial match.
Sweden's dominant performance has signaled their potential to go deep into the tournament, building on their impressive records in recent years. The team has garnered local support in New Zealand, where they are based, and their form has garnered attention from fans worldwide.
On the other hand, Italy, representing the nation after the men's team's absence in the last two World Cups, will need a much-improved performance to advance further in the competition.
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