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| Sweden’s midfielder Lisa Dahlkvist (front) and Australia’s defender Elise Kellond-Knight vie for the ball during their quarter-final match of the FIFA women’s football World Cup in Augsburg, Germany yesterday. Sweden won 3-1. (AFP |
Sweden took advantage of some sloppy Australia defending to claim a decisive 3-1 victory and book a semi-final clash with Japan in the Women’s World Cup here yesterday.
Swedes were later joined in the last four by two-time winners the USA beat Brazil 5-3 on penal after the match finished 2-2 after extra time.
Defender Alex Krieger hit the winning penalty after US goalkeeper Hope Solo had saved a penalty from Brazil’s Daiane to give her side the advantage.
The USA will now go onto face France in Moenchengladbach in Wednesday’s semi-final for a place in next Sunday’s final in Frankfurt.
Therese Sjogran (11) and Lisa Dahlkvist (16) had given the Swedes an early lead in their quarter-final tie before World Cup debutante Ellyse Perry got one back five minutes before the break.
Player of the match Lotta Schelin finished off the contest after 52 minutes in front of a crowd of nearly 25,000 who were vocally supporting Australia as Germany’s ticket to the 2012 Olympic Games depended on a Swedish defeat.
“The only thing I felt was they (the crowd) were shouting a bit more for Australia,” said the Lyon striker. “Of course they wanted Germany to go to the Olympics. But otherwise it was fantastic.”
Sweden, the 2003 runners-up, next play Japan, who sensationally knocked out two-time holders Germany, in the semi-finals in Frankfurt on Wednesday.
The Scandinavians also book one of the two European qualifying spots for the 2012 Olympics along with France who advanced to the semi-finals by beating England, who qualify as hosts, on penalties on Saturday.
Coach Tom Sermanni blamed sloppy defending for Australia’s defeat. “The goals that we conceded here have been very simple, basic mistakes. At 2-1 you have a chance to come back into the game, at 3-1 you’re struggling,” he said.
“We managed to keep playing, the situation wasn’t irretrievable. At half time we were confident we could go on and win the game until we coughed up that third goal. But I’m proud we didn’t give up.”
Under the blazing Bavarian sun, Sjogran got the more experienced Swedes off the mark after 11 minutes when she picked up a Schelin cross to fire past diving goalie Melissa Barbieri.
Five minutes later Dahlkvist headed in her third goal in four World Cup matches.
Australia pushed forward with Collette McCallum missing a free-kick opportunity late in the first half but Perry got the Matildas back into the tie five minutes before the break.