Sweden finishes third to ruin Australia’s World Cup celebration

Even if some Australian players sobbed after the final whistle, this was the co-hosts’ best World Cup ever.

Sweden defeated Australia 2-0 in Brisbane on Saturday to upset Australia’s celebration and clinch third place at the Women’s World Cup.

Fridolina Rolfo’s 30-minute penalty gave Sweden the lead in front of a crowd of around 50,000, and Kosovare Asllani’s thunderous goal soon after the hour doubled their advantage.

Sweden has now placed third in the competition four times.

The last 10 minutes of the game were particularly difficult, according to coach Peter Gerhardsson.

“There was a big sense of relief and it was a beautiful feeling when the last whistle went and we had won.

“It’s great to win a match of this magnitude; back in Sweden, this tournament has received a lot of attention.”

“It Wasn’t To Be”

On August 19, 2023, at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia’s players react to their defeat following the conclusion of their team’s match against Sweden for third place in the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup. (Image courtesy of Patrick Hamilton/AFP)

Sweden completely deserved to defeat the hosts after controlling the middle and mostly isolating legendary Australian scorer Sam Kerr.

Mary Fowler, another powerful Australian attacker, had a difficult night due to the size and strength of the Swedish defenders.

During her 63 minutes on the game, Sweden attacker Stina Blackstenius wrecked havoc among the Australian defences and contributed to both goals.

Rolfo, the game’s top performer, said: “We proved we were the superior squad right away. We had every right to win this game.

Even if some Australian players sobbed after the final whistle, this was the co-hosts’ best World Cup ever.

“We wanted to have some hardware to take home, but it wasn’t to be,” said Kerr, who started his first game of the competition only when England defeated him 3-1 in the semifinals due to injury.

The captain made an effort to see the wider picture, adding, “We’ve proved to the world — and also within Australia — that we are a footballing nation.”

Risky Blackstenius

Compared to the Matildas, the Swedes started far more determinedly and took control for the majority of the opening period.

The Swedes controlled the middle while slowing the ball down, something like to how England played in the semi-final on Wednesday.

Australia mostly chased shadows and struggled to gain any significant possession; they only really appeared dangerous on the transition.

When Blackstenius struck low across goal in the opening sixty seconds, the Swedes had a fantastic opportunity to go in front.

Ellie Carpenter performed brilliantly to clear from in front of an open goal after Australian custodian Mackenzie Arnold parried the ball away, continuing her stellar performance from earlier in the evening.

It took the Matildas until the 24th minute to get their first shot off, and Zecira Musovic of Sweden made a fine save on a drive by Hayley Raso.

After Blackstenius made yet another risky run into the area, Clare Hunt was adjudged to have pinched the Swedish striker’s heel, and seconds later Sweden seized the lead.

At the 60-minute mark, Australia’s coach Tony Gustavsson made an attacking substitution, inserting Cortnee Vine and Emily van Egmond, but Sweden still maintained control of the game.

When Blackstenius crossed the ball across goal for Asllani, who then powerfully struck the ball past a diving Arnold, they made some progress towards quieting the sold-out crowd.

Both of them were nearly soon substituted, so that was their final contribution of the game.

Musovic was largely unaffected in keeping a clean sheet as Australia urgently attempted to crack the Swedish defence in the final 20 minutes by launching deep crosses into the box.

AFP