It took a shaker and a goal in the 90th minute.
But Sweden finally won against South Africa – and got a dream start in the World Cup.
It wasn’t the best international match Sweden had done. But no one could care less about that right now. For Sweden turned around and won against South Africa and took an extremely heavy and important victory for the continuation in the WC.
The first half offered few clear scoring chances, from both teams. The match picture was clear: Swedish ball possession and a defensive South Africa that invested in counterattacks.
Sweden had some good attacks, but the final pass or cross was often far too low quality.
At the beginning of the second half came the cold shower: Amanda Ilestedt trailed in a run, goalkeeper Zecira Musovic could only steer the ball away and South Africa’s Magaia was able to poke the ball in from close range.
Sweden then continued to attack, but the goal to make it 1-1 still came randomly. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd hit a cross that a South African keeper steered into her own goal.
The big favorite Sweden then chased a winning goal, often via fixed situations where they tried to use their length advantage. In the end, the winning goal also came.
Amanda Ilestedt – who got some revenge after South Africa’s lead – headed in the 2-1 goal from close range in the 90th minute.