Sweden Women vs South Africa Women. Women's World Cup Group G.
Sky StadiumAttendance18,317.
Match report as Hildah Magaia opened the scoring for South Africa; Fridolina Rolfo equalised for third-ranked Sweden; Amanda Ilestedt nodded home from a corner to secure an opening win for her country; Sweden go top of Group G before Italy and Argentina play on Monday.
Sunday 23 July 2023 09:44, UK
Amanda Ilestedt's 90th-minute winner gave Sweden a 2-1 win over South Africa in their Women's World Cup Group G match on Sunday after a fortuitous equaliser from Fridolina Rolfo had cancelled out Hildah Magaia's opener.
Under pouring rain in the New Zealand capital, Ilestedt jumped highest and squeezed the ball home to save her team's blushes after they were left frustrated by the African champions for much of the opening hour of the game.
The result left the third-ranked Swedes top of their group, before Italy and Argentina play their opener in Auckland on Monday.
"South Africa made it hard for us, but I think we grew into the game and got better and better. In the second half we played better, but a victory in the opening game is what counts," Ilestedt said.
South Africa, ranked 54th, were looking for their first World Cup win on their second appearance at the tournament, having exited in the group stage in 2019 without picking up a point.
They kept their more fancied opponents at bay in the first half, as a frustrated Sweden side controlled possession but could not find the finishing touch, and threatened on the counter.
Captain Refiloe Jane's brilliant long-range attempt floated over the crossbar, while Sweden struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Filippa Angeldal drawing the only save from the goalkeeper in the first half with a tame effort.
Zecira Musovic had parried away Thembi Kgatlana's shot but Magaia got to the rebound before Sweden defender Jonna Andersson and bundled the ball over the line two minutes after the break, scoring South Africa's second World Cup goal.
But Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's cross skewed off defender Lebohang Ramalepe and bounced into the net off Rolfo to hand the Swedes a lifeline in the 66th minute.
Peter Gerhardsson's side pushed for a winner but they were denied by South Africa's resolute defending, until Ilestedt met Kosovare Asllani's corner with a strong header.
"We're so used to being in such situations where things don't work, (and thinking about) what are we going to do," Gerhardsson said.
"It's no coincidence that we decided the match on a set-piece, it's no coincidence because that's what we practice a lot."
The group stage has begun and runs over a two-week period finishing on August 3. Group winners and runners-up progress to the round of 16, which takes place from August 5 to August 8.
The quarter-finals, which will be held in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney, are scheduled for August 11 and 12.
The first semi-final will then be played on August 15 in Auckland, with the other semi-final taking place on August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, which will then host the final on August 20.
A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.
