LAST UPDATE | 29 Jul 2023
SWEDEN’S TOWERING DEFENDER Amanda Ilestedt scored twice with her head to help her country to a 5-0 thrashing of Italy and a berth in the Women’s World Cup last 16.
A tight contest was blown open in a seven-minute spell late in the first half when the third-ranked Swedes found the net three times, through Ilestedt, Fridolina Rolfo and Stina Blackstenius.
Arsenal centre-back Ilestedt bagged her second soon after the interval to give her three goals for the tournament — all headers from corners — including a late match-winner in their opening 2-1 defeat of South Africa.
Substitute Rebecka Blomqvist rounded out the rout in stoppage time in front of nearly 30,000 in Wellington.
The Swedes are assured of finishing in the top two of Group G, and became the third team to book a place in the knockout stage after Spain and Japan.
It was a flexing of the muscles from one of the tournament favourites, who have a history of near-misses at the World Cup.
Their set-piece prowess was on full show, with three of the goals coming from left-footed inswinging corners delivered by Jonna Andersson.
Sixteenth-ranked Italy had no answer to the aerial threat of Ilestedt in particular and went to halftime shellshocked after enjoying the better of the early stages.
Having opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over Argentina, Italy’s tournament will be over if they lose their final group match against South Africa on Wednesday.
South Africa and Argentina secured their first point with a 2-2 draw on Friday.
Italy actually started brightly, with Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic tested by two sharp early strikes from Sofia Cantore, the only change to Italy’s starting side.
However, the Swedes began to gel and the floodgates opened in the 39th minute when the 1.78-metre Ilestedt leapt to glance home Andersson’s pinpoint corner.
Barcelona star Rolfo, who was a doubt for the game with a knee niggle, bagged her second goal of the tournament when Italy couldn’t clear from another corner.
Arsenal striker Blackstenius made it three in first-half stoppage time when she stabbed home after Johanna Kaneryd’s cross wasn’t cleared.
Le Azzure’s defence was beaten again by a leaping Ilestedt five minutes after the break.
As Italy wilted, Blomqvist went through on goal one on one for number five.
Sweden, who have now qualified for the knockout phase in eight of nine World Cup appearances, will play their final group game against Argentina in Hamilton on Wednesday.
Coach Peter Gerhardsson may consider changes after fielding the same starting side in both games.
Elsewhere, Jamaica won a Women’s World Cup match for the first time with a deserved 1-0 victory over debutants Panama to close on a place in the last 16.
Skipper Allyson Swaby headed in from a corner early in the second half to give Jamaica their first victory at a World Cup at the fifth attempt.
Having held France to a 0-0 draw in their opening match, the Jamaica sit second in Group F with four points from two games, level on points with the French.
Jamaica face Brazil, beaten 2-1 by France on Saturday, on Wednesday knowing they only need a point to claim a landmark spot in the last 16.
It comes against the backdrop of rows with the Jamaican football federation over a lack of support for the team and unpaid expenses.
Panama, who are making their debut appearance at the World Cup, are out.
Jamaica were on top for much of the contest in front of nearly 16,000 spectators in Perth.
But with their star striker Khadija Shaw absent, having been sent off late on in the stalemate with France, they lacked a cutting edge up front at times.
In her glaring absence, midfielder Drew Spence appeared determined to grab the game by the scruff of the neck all by herself.
The London-born Tottenham Hotspur player, who previously made a couple of appearances for England, ran the show at times.
She was also a threat going forward and came closest to scoring in the first period when on the stroke of half-time her direct free-kick pinged back off the bar.
Jamaica’s pressure paid off in the 56th minute when Swaby rose highest from a corner to glance the ball past goalkeeper Yenith Bailey.
It was only their second World Cup goal ever and put them on their way to their first win, having lost all three matches in their previous appearance, in 2019.
Jamaica thought they had a penalty at the death, but it was turned down after a VAR review.
Updated at 3.36pm with Jamaica v Panama result.
