Key occasions
36 minutes: Oooh, that was shut. Asllani does nicely to roll her defender on the within proper channel. Blackstenius is in an ideal place within the field, however the cross is intercepted. Kaneryd then wriggles to the byline on the best however her supply finds solely black jerseys. This sample of play is quick turning into the default at WWC2023.
34 minutes: A short spell of transitional play energises each groups who’re most at dwelling searching for early balls in behind. Nonetheless, the pace of the slick floor sees each tried through-balls scamper by to the goalkeepers.
32 minutes: From the nook, South Africa fail to clear the primary header – Swart once more below monumental strain. Angeldal picks up the scraps and drills a left-footed effort in the direction of purpose from the sting of the field, it ricochets off Magala’s hip and onto her arm. Sweden are adamant it’s a penalty, however the referee, and VAR, appropriately disagree.
31 minutes: Angeldal spots Blackstenius ghosting into area on the far submit and lofts a teasing ball in that route. Swart comes out and palms the ball behind for a nook.
30 minutes: South Africa break shortly and Seoposenwe takes the chance to shoot early, forcing Musovic right into a routine save. You may see how harmful this South African ahead line can be in numerous circumstances.
29 minutes: Andersson’s left-footed inswinger targets Swart within the air, nevertheless it curls an excessive amount of and onto the roof of the web.
27 minutes: Swart’s lengthy goal-kick skids throughout to the quicksilver Kgatlana. The Racing Louisville ahead skips her approach from the left wing infield shaping for a shot however she drags her effort vast of the close to submit. A uncommon scare for Sweden, who go down the opposite finish and earn a nook.
25 minutes: Sweden at the moment are in whole management of this match. The ball is being moved round defence and midfield at will, however South Africa are defending the sting of their field nicely and proceed to step out and make essential interceptions. Poor crossing has been a characteristic of this World Cup to this point, and it threatens to be a difficulty once more for the dominant aspect.
23 minutes: Sweden develop slowly till they create area down the left by Andersson and Eriksson. The cross is whipped over in the direction of Blackstenius however the Arsenal striker can’t manipulate her physique sufficiently to divert the ball in the direction of the goal.
22 minutes: South Africa are getting pushed additional and additional again, and discovering it more and more troublesome to clear their traces. Sweden are providing them little or no alternative to get on the ball.
20 minutes: A nicely labored set-piece from Sweden generates a shot on the right track. From the best, the ball is performed sq. to Asllani to strike from outdoors the field, and it dips and swerves in the direction of Swart, who takes a few goes at subduing it within the treacherous situations.
18 minutes: South Africa are completely satisfied to provide Sweden as a lot possession as they like close to midway. It’s as much as the Swedes to be extra daring in how they use it to create alternatives. They proceed to search for the neat triangles to engineer area down the flanks, principally with Angeldal providing a display screen to flick vast to the runners.
16 minutes: Gamede is simply too pressing in her pursuit of Blackstenius and Sweden win a free-kick. It’s lofted deep into the field and headed out for a throw-in. From there, South Africa’s strain forces the Swedes all their approach again to their goalkeeper. The clearance is hurried, straight to Refiloe Jane in midfield, and her lofted effort from 35m out nearly catches Musovic off her line. Banyana Banyana have been enterprising after they’ve had a sniff.
15 minutes: Sweden with the primary nook of the night time, on the best. It’s a superb inswinger. Swart comes to assert it however isn’t decisive, and is lucky to see the ball bounce on the toes of a South African defender.
13 minutes: Pretty link-up play by South Africa, spraying a collection of first-time passes to create room on the best earlier than Sweden shut down the area. The transfer started following an intercept from a direct Swedish ball down the left, catching the Europeans out of place in transition.
11 minutes: It’s all Sweden in the intervening time. In transitional moments they’re wanting early for the runs of Blackstenius by the center, however then they’re completely satisfied to govern the triangles till there’s a spot within the channels for a large participant to take advantage of. That participant has been Kaneryd on quite a few events already, however her crossing has left loads to be desired, the newest effort skewing off her proper boot and over the crossbar.
10 minutes: Play continues and Sweden assault down the best with Angeldal sending over a cross that South Africa don’t take care of. The Swedes regroup down the left however the second supply into the world is overhit and skids out for a purpose kick.
8 minutes: An early scare for South Africa with Magala down clutching her left leg.
6 minutes: South Africa scrap arduous for possession in midfield and Gamede frees Seoposenwe in behind on the best. The Monterrey ahead does nicely to face up the Sweden defence and curl over a harmful cross, however after bouncing within the space, a half-chance slapshot is belted excessive and vast. Encouraging from the underdogs.
