Though a blow to Italy’s confidence, the workforce can nonetheless advance to the final 16 by beating South Africa.
Sweden dominated Italy with a 5-0 win because it booked its spot within the Girls’s World Cup knockout stage with a match to spare.
With the win on Saturday, the third-ranked Swedes be part of title contenders Spain and former champions Japan in reaching the knockout rounds.
Arsenal defender Amanda Ilestedt scored twice, with Fridolina Rolfo, Stina Blackstenius and Rebecka Blomqvist additionally on the scoresheet.
“I’m impressed – it’s not the primary time I’m impressed by these gamers by the way in which,” Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson advised reporters. “It’s ingrained of their mentality someplace to only hold going.”
Italy dominated possession early on however couldn’t take care of the Swedish aerial menace at corners, making it their worst defeat in a World Cup match.
Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic needed to act swiftly to save lots of ahead Sofia Cantore’s shot within the first minute, adopted by one other from the Juventus ahead within the seventeenth.
Rolfo received her second purpose of the match not too lengthy after with a flick off her knee from shut vary because the Italian defence struggled.
The third purpose got here from open play in first-half stoppage time when Johanna Kaneryd broke down the fitting flank and crossed the ball to Blackstenius simply in time for the striker to complete.
Ilestedt’s second purpose within the fiftieth minute was a carbon copy of the primary, because the Arsenal defender headed one other into the web off a nook from Andersson.
The final Sweden purpose got here on the finish of the match when Blomqvist raced away from the Italian defenders and buried the ball within the backside left nook of the web.
“They’ve plenty of weapons, plenty of arrows of their quiver. The primary half-hour we truly gave them a tough time,” Italy coach Milena Bertolini advised reporters.
“Then we unfold out and once you’re not compact, once you’re taking part in a workforce like Sweden, then you definately’re confronted with difficulties.”
Though a blow to Italy’s confidence, the workforce can nonetheless advance to the final 16 by avoiding defeat of their last Group G fixture towards South Africa on Wednesday.
