LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – An altered Rebecka Blomqvist second-half header and substitute Elin Rubensson’s 90th-minute penalty helped Sweden defeat Argentina 2-0 and advance to the Women’s World Cup round of 16.
The third-ranked Swedes were placed on pace to win Group G when Blomqvist brilliantly headed home Sofia Jakobsson’s cross in the 66th minute. Rubensson then converted a penalty kick to secure the victory.
Swedish defense and goalkeeper Jennifer Falk were never really tested by Argentina, who lost midfielder Florencia Bonsegundo to injury minutes before the interval. Argentina needed to win to have any hope of moving on.
In their four World Cup appearances, they have yet to pick up a victory, and they placed last in their group.
Sweden will play host nation United States in a thrilling matchup on Sunday in Melbourne. The two teams previously met in the Olympic quarterfinals in 2021, when the Europeans won 3-0 to go to the final.
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Coach Peter Gerhardsson made nine changes to the team that defeated Italy 5-0 since Sweden had already qualified after winning their first two games and simply needed a point to take first place in the group.
Only the defenders Amanda Ilestedt and Magdalena Eriksson kept their spots, and in a fragmented first half, Olivia Schough’s feeble free-kick was the only effort on goal for Sweden.
After an hour, Blomqvist made a breakthrough and was hauled down in the penalty area by Gabriela Chavez in the dying seconds, resulting in a penalty that was converted by Rubensson into the top of the net.