Sweden beat Australia to clinch third place at World Cup

AFP / Patrick Hamilton

Sweden picked up their fourth Women's World Cup bronze medal on Saturday after beating co-hosts Australia 2-0 in the third-place playoff match at Lang Park in Brisbane.

Ranked third in the world, Sweden was awarded a penalty in the 28th minute after a VAR review showed Australia's Clare Hunt clipped Stina Blackstenius' heels, and Fridolina Rolfo slotted home the resulting spot-kick.

Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani doubled their lead just after the hour mark, rifling a sweet strike from the edge of the penalty area beyond goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold following another quick counter-attack.

While disappointed to sign off at the World Cup with another defeat, the Matildas still achieved their best result at the tournament, having never previously gone beyond the quarter-final stage.

Both teams were unchanged from the sides that started the semi-finals, where Australia was beaten 3-1 by England, and Sweden lost 2-1 to Spain. England plays Spain in the final on Sunday.

Sweden started brightly and could have made a dream start when Blackstenius fired a low drive across the goal in the opening minute, but the attempt was palmed away by Arnold and cleared by defender Ellie Carpenter.

The Matildas soon found their passing rhythm, tearing forward on the counter through Hayley Raso, but the winger's effort was blocked. Raso was denied again midway through the half, with goalkeeper Sweden Zecira Musovic making a fine save.

Rolfo headed against the bar from Asllani's wonderful cross shortly before Sweden was given a penalty, the decision loudly jeered by the capacity crowd of 49,461.

With the pace of the game picking up, Arnold made a magnificent low save to keep out Rolfo's free kick in the closing minutes of the half.

Moments after Australia coach Tony Gustavsson made his first substitutions, the Matildas fell further behind, Asllani finishing off an incisive break before being mobbed by her delighted teammates.

Australia pushed forward in numbers but looked out of energy and ideas. Their efforts to claw their way back into the game were hampered when star striker Sam Kerr picked up a knock late on, and Sweden closed out the game comfortably.

More from Sports News

  • Liverpool hold on to beat Everton 2-1 in Merseyside derby

    Liverpool held off a spirited Everton fightback to claim a 2-1 Premier League victory in a tense Merseyside derby at Anfield on Saturday, preserving their perfect start to the season and moving further ahead atop the table after five games.

  • Baku to stay on F1 calendar until 2030

    Azerbaijan will stay on the Formula One calendar until at least 2030 after the sport announced a four-year contract extension on Saturday.

  • Alcaraz dazzles as Team Europe take 3-1 lead in Laver Cup

    Defending champions Team Europe stormed out of the gates on the opening day of the Laver Cup in San Francisco on Friday, winning three of four matches to take a handy lead over Team World with Carlos Alcaraz sparkling in doubles action.

  • Amorim remains defiant over Man Utd tactics

    Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said not even the pope could make him deviate from playing with a back three despite mounting pressure following a dismal run, adding that abandoning his preferred formation would undermine him in his players' eyes.

Blogs