23 Jul 202309.01 BSTSummary
Jonathan HowcroftThank you very much for joining me today. Sweden will be delighted with the three points, but a little concerned by how hard they were to earn. South Africa will be heartbroken at falling behind so late in the game, but they can take heart from a showing of great promise.
Don’t forget that there is a lifetime’s worth of World Cup content to sink your teeth just a few clicks away. The most urgent of which is the liveblog of Netherlands v Portugal, with that Group E clash kicking off in a few minutes.
I’ll catch you back here on Thursday to see if the Matildas can make it two from two against Nigeria. Cheerio!
Next up in Group G is Italy v Argentina at Eden Park tomorrow evening.
South Africa next take the field against La Albiceleste in Dunedin on Friday, with Sweden taking on Le Azzurre in Wellington on Saturday.
This group always looked wide open, and after that 90 minutes of action it seems ever harder to call.
23 Jul 202308.07 BSTSouth Africa can leave with their heads held high. They kept Sweden at bay in the first half and looked threatening on the counter through the pace and trickery of Seoposenwe and Kgatlana. They caught the Swedes cold at the start of the second half and looked to have fought hard enough for a point, only to be undone at the death. Desiree Ellis can be immensely proud of her side.
Tonight it was Sweden who passed themselves to distraction but rarely looked like creating anything meaningful from open play. Rolfö was a passenger, Hurtig featured for only a few minutes, and Blackstenius could not get any change from a resolute back four. It took a set-piece, one of 13 corners on the night to Sweden, to secure the victory.
The pattern of this World Cup appears to be set, with the favoured nations lacking attacking penetration and struggling to break down the supposed minnows. Those outsiders in turn are demonstrating exceptional resilience and organisation, and winning plenty of new admirers along the way.
23 Jul 202307.58 BSTFull-time: Sweden 2-1 South Africa
Sweden come from behind to secure a valuable three points. South Africa gave their all but couldn’t hang on for a draw.
90+6 mins: Another dangerous corner from the side Sweden scored from. This time a South African head gets to the ball first and glance behind for another corner.
Updated at 07.59 BST23 Jul 202307.56 BST90+5 mins: Sweden do well to retain possession down the left and take time off the clock until Blomqvist is taken down from behind. The free-kick is curled into the box, Sweden keep it alive as players slip and slide Blomqvist has a half-hearted shout for a penalty and the ball is deflected wide for a corner.
23 Jul 202307.54 BST90+4 mins: Floated over, Kgatlana wins the header leaning backwards 10m out, and it’s easy for Musovic to flop on and milk the clock.
23 Jul 202307.53 BST90+3 mins: So tough now for South Africa to turn an 11-player rearguard action into a chase for a last gasp equaliser… but they have forced a corner on the left.
23 Jul 202307.52 BST90+1 mins: Six minutes of injury time for Sweden to navigate.
23 Jul 202307.52 BSTGOAL! Sweden 2-1 South Africa (Ilestedt, 90)
Sweden steal it at the death! From the 11th corner of the night, the ball is swung over from the left towards Swart in the South African goal. As she has done all night the lanky Ilestedt jumps highest and gets enough on her downward header to squeeze the ball home. Relief for Sweden. Despair for South Africa.
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