Kosovare Asllani’s stunning second-half strike sealed victory for Sweden as they beat Australia to finish third at the Women’s World Cup.
She rifled in a shot from the edge of the area to add to Fridolina Rolfo’s first-half penalty as Sweden won the bronze medal match for the second World Cup in succession.
Despite the defeat, this represents co-hosts Australia’s best ever World Cup finish as their efforts in this tournament have captured the hearts of the fans in green and gold but the Matildas were unable to end on a high.
Rolfo’s penalty gave Peter Gerhardsson’s side the lead after a video assistant referee (VAR) check confirmed that Claire Hunt had clipped Stina Blackstenius in the box after 26 minutes.
And on the hour mark, Blackstenius played a superb square ball to Asllani, who stroked in a first-time shot to double their lead.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Sweden
-
Squad number1Player nameMusovic
-
Squad number14Player nameBjörn
-
Squad number13Player nameIlestedt
-
Squad number6Player nameEriksson
-
Squad number2Player nameAndersson
-
Squad number16Player nameAngeldahl
-
Squad number23Player nameRubensson
-
Squad number19Player nameRytting Kaneryd
-
Squad number9Player nameAsllani
-
Squad number18Player nameRolfö
-
Squad number11Player nameBlackstenius
-
Squad number3Player nameSembrant
-
Squad number8Player nameHurtig
-
Squad number15Player nameBlomqvist
Australia
-
Squad number18Player nameArnold
-
Squad number21Player nameCarpenter
-
Squad number15Player nameHunt
-
Squad number4Player namePolkinghorne
-
Squad number7Player nameCatley
-
Squad number16Player nameRaso
-
Squad number19Player nameGorry
-
Squad number23Player nameCooney-Cross
-
Squad number9Player nameFoord
-
Squad number11Player nameFowler
-
Squad number20Player nameKerr
-
Squad number2Player nameNevin
-
Squad number5Player nameVine
-
Squad number8Player nameChidiac
-
Squad number10Player namevan Egmond
Line-ups
Sweden
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Musovic
- 14Björn
- 13Ilestedt
- 6Eriksson
- 2Andersson
- 16Angeldahl
- 23RubenssonBooked at 88mins
- 19Rytting KanerydSubstituted forSembrantat 89′minutes
- 9AsllaniSubstituted forHurtigat 67′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 18Rolfö
- 11BlacksteniusSubstituted forBlomqvistat 67′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Sembrant
- 4Lennartsson
- 5Sandberg
- 7Janogy
- 8Hurtig
- 10Jakobsson
- 12Falk
- 15Blomqvist
- 17Seger
- 20Bennison
- 21Enblom
- 22Schough
Australia
Formation 4-4-2
- 18Arnold
- 21CarpenterSubstituted forNevinat 74′minutes
- 15Hunt
- 4PolkinghorneSubstituted forChidiacat 74′minutes
- 7Catley
- 16RasoSubstituted forVineat 60′minutes
- 19GorryBooked at 45minsSubstituted forvan Egmondat 60′minutes
- 23Cooney-Cross
- 9Foord
- 11Fowler
- 20Kerr
Substitutes
- 1Williams
- 2Nevin
- 3Luik
- 5Vine
- 6Wheeler
- 8Chidiac
- 10van Egmond
- 12Micah
- 13Yallop
- 14Kennedy
- 17Simon
- 22Grant
Live Text
-
Match ends, Sweden 2, Australia 0.
-
Second Half ends, Sweden 2, Australia 0.
-
Attempt missed. Caitlin Foord (Australia) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
-
Lina Hurtig (Sweden) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Foul by Lina Hurtig (Sweden).
-
Alex Chidiac (Australia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
-
Rebecka Blomqvist (Sweden) wins a free kick on the left wing.
-
Foul by Kyra Cooney-Cross (Australia).
-
Attempt missed. Emily van Egmond (Australia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
-
Attempt missed. Kyra Cooney-Cross (Australia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
-
Foul by Fridolina Rolfö (Sweden).
-
Steph Catley (Australia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Substitution, Sweden. Linda Sembrant replaces Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
-
Elin Rubensson (Sweden) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Foul by Elin Rubensson (Sweden).
-
Alex Chidiac (Australia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
-
Foul by Fridolina Rolfö (Sweden).
-
Kyra Cooney-Cross (Australia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Foul by Amanda Ilestedt (Sweden).
-
Caitlin Foord (Australia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
