Australia and Sweden shared the spoils in their final group stage game after two early goals sent the Matilda’s through to the last 16 while the Scandinavian outfit face an anxious wait to see if they have progressed.
The opening goal of the match was scored within the first 5 minutes as Australian captain Lisa De Vanna bagged her second goal of the tournament before Sofia Jakobsson grabbed an equaliser for her side on the quarter of an hour mark.
The match was an end-to-end affair and was played with a high tempo from the off as a long ball from Laura Alleway moments after kick off caught the Swedish defence half asleep allowing De Vanna to run in behind and dispatch a cool finish to give her side the early lead.
The goal proved the wake-up call that Sweden needed as both teams searched for the vital win in a game that would ultimately decide second place in Group C.
The European outfit dominated after falling behind and got their well-deserved equaliser through a fierce Jakobsson effort that was driven hard and low in to the corner from 20 yards.
Shortly after Sweden could have taken the lead when Amanda Ilestedt went close with a powerful header from a corner, but her effort was just the wrong side of the post, before Australia’s goalkeeper Lydia Williams saved her side twice in quick succession. Firstly tipping a Caroline Seger volley over the crossbar with an impressive fingertip save, before denying Jakobsson her second of the day from point-black range.
As the half time whistle blew, Pia Sundhage’s side must have been wondering how they were not in front but unfortunately they couldn’t maintain their intensity in the second half and the match was much tamer affair after the restart.
Australia went close through Samantha Kerr and Caitlin Foord but nonetheless the game finished in a draw which left the Matilda’s celebrating their progression to the next stage and Sweden facing a possible first round exit despite being ranked 5th in the world.
After the game Aussie coach Alen Stajcic spoke of his side’s achievements despite their underdog tag.
“I’m obviously very proud of the team. I read a lot of reports before the tournament and I don’t think one predicted us to progress,” he said.
“The first ten minutes was fantastic, and then we lost some composure for a while. A tough game and not a pretty one to watch perhaps, but this gives us so much belief that we can take on the best and beat them in the knockout rounds.
“Any team that comes up against will have a fight on their hands.”
