STINA BLACKSTENIUS SCORED the only goal of a cagey match as Sweden beat Canada 1-0 in Paris on Monday to reach the women’s World Cup quarter-finals.
The victory sets up a rematch of the 2016 Olympic final as the Swedes play Germany on Saturday in Rennes. Three years ago Germany won the gold with a 2-1 victory in Rio de Janeiro, though Blackstenius scored in that match.
Blackstenius scored the only goal in the 55th minute with a brave finish after a crisp Swedish counter-attack.
After that, the last-16 tie was once again a story of VAR. A review gave Canada a penalty, but Hedvig Lindahl, at full stretch, saved Janine Beckie’s driven spot-kick.
Then, referee Kate Jacewicz pointed to the spot after a foul by Ashley Lawrence, but the decision was over-ruled after VAR detected a Swedish offside in the build-up.
Sweden 1-0 Canada - Sweden hit the front against the run of play thanks to a wonderful breakaway goal. #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/gHpNQUQrLv
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 24, 2019
Both sides came into the knockout rounds after losing dead rubbers to finish second in their groups. Canada went down 2-1 to the Netherlands. Sweden fell 2-0 to the USA but rested a host of usual starters.
The Swedes made five changes for a match that kicked off with the temperature tickling 30 degrees Celsius.
Neither side managed a shot on target in the first half.
Christine Sinclair, chasing the all-time women’s international scoring record, had one shot, early in the second half, a 25-metre free-kick that curled gently wide.
Sweden took the lead on the counter.
Kosovare Asllani ran onto a long pass down the left, paused and then curled the ball behind centre-back Shelina Zadorsky and into the path of Blackstenius.
Sweden 1-0 Canada - After a lengthy delay for a VAR penalty check, Canada are awarded a spot-kick but Swedish goalkeeper Lindahl produces a fine save #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/1FKYxZdZfm
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 24, 2019
The centre-forward hit the ball first-time from just inside the box and before being clattered by Zadorsky and goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe. The shot looped off Labbe and into the net.
Canada responded with a burst of frenzied pressure and were rewarded on 68 minutes when Desiree Scott met a weak clearance from a corner with a volley that struck Asllani on the arm.
Manchester City’s Beckie drilled her penalty low to Lindahl’s right, but the Chelsea goalkeeper hurled herself across the goal to save.
Sweden 1-0 Canada - Sweden think they have a penalty and a chance to double their lead but a VAR review rules out the spot-kick for an offside in the build-up #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/K3fQjEDHyg
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 24, 2019
Then VAR denied the Swedes a penalty.
Canada pressed desperately but the nearest either side came to a goal was when Scott cleared Asllani’s volley off the line after a Swedish corner.
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