SWEDEN 2-1 SOUTH AFRICA
World Cup contenders Sweden edged a challenging South African side in Group G with a 90th minute last gasp Amanda Illestedt header, breaking Banyana Banyana hearts.
For the South Africans it will not be a complete heartbreak and they can undoubtedly leave with their heads held high. They kept Sweden at bay in the first half despite their opponents controlling possession, and themselves looked threatening on the counter through the pace and trickery of the likes of Jermaine Seoposenwe and Thembi Kgatlana.
Such resilience was rewarded when Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic had parried away Thembi Kgatlana’s deflected shot with Hildah Magaia getting to the rebound ahead of the Swedish defence and bundling the ball over the line two minutes after the break scoring South Africa’s second ever World Cup goal.
It was only after being gifted a fortuitous equaliser through Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s cross, skewing off defender Lebohang Ramalepe and bouncing into the net off Fridolina Rolfo, that invited the Swedes back into the game. Looking for a winner, Amanda Ilestedt met Kosovare Asllani’s corner with a strong header in the 90th minute giving Sweden a hard fought 3 points.
Goalscorer Ilestedt spoke after the game: “South Africa made it hard for us, but I think we grew into the game and got better and better. In the second half we played better, but a victory in the opening game is what counts.”
South Africa Manager Desiree Ellis said: “We knew that they were going to be a challenge at set pieces and I thought we handled that really well.Even though it was a loss, we’re very proud of the way we played.”
The result sees Sweden go top of Group G before Italy and Argentina play tomorrow.
NETHERLANDS 1-0 PORTUGAL
The 2nd game of the day saw debutants Portugal overcome in a narrow 1-0 victory by the 2019 World Cup finalists, the Dutch. A first-half header from Stefanie Van der Gragt was awarded following a VAR review giving them an important victory in their opening World Cup encounter.
The goal in the 13th minute was initially disallowed as Jill Roord was accused of obstructing the goalkeeper. However, the offside decision for interfering with play was overturned on a VAR review by the referee after she watched a replay on the monitor.
The Dutch continued to dominate the game with constant waves of attacks and midfielder Jil Roord nearly made it 2-0 minutes later when she had a free header in the six-yard box but her effort blazed over the bar.
Such Dutch dominance continued throughout the second half and Portuguese keeper Ines Pereira denied Danielle van De Donk with a fine reflex save after some clever passing to set up the midfielder.
It was only in the latter stages of the game that Portugal were able to threaten the Dutch defence when substitute Telma Encarnacao charged down the right wing and cut in to shoot, but Dutch keeper Daphne van Domselaar was up to the task and parried her attempt. In truth, the Netherlands were able to comfortably see out the match despite failing to create a large amount of clear cut chances, and there was a sense they are still struggling to adapt without star striker Vivianne Miedama.
Dutch coach Andries Jonker praised the Portuguese: “They were really combative. There were moments where we were great and moments where there was room for improvement.”
Portugal coach Francisco Neto said: “We should have had a reaction after the goal, we had a well-balanced game and structure. But compared to other matches with the Netherlands, they had a lot more possession… This is where we suffered.”
It may not have been a vintage performance from the Netherlands, but it was enough to get them three points in a crucial opening fixture, meaning they head into their clash with the USA level on points but trailing in the group on goal difference. The game will be one of the most keenly anticipated of the group stages as the two finalists from the 2019 World Cup meet again on the world’s biggest stage next Thursday.
FRANCE 0-0 JAMAICA
Ranked fifth in the world, a lacklustre French team were thwarted by a hardworking Jamaican side in a goalless draw marking a historic day for the Reggae Girlz.
Jamaica delivered a stellar performance, one full of high intensity pressing and was marred only by Khadija Shaw’s late sending off for catching Wendie Renard in a clumsy tackle in what was a frenetic end to the game. The Reggae Girlz more than held their own ground in a set-piece dominated encounter in which Tottenham’s Spence produced an outstanding performance that helped keep things narrowly compact, reducing their opponents to enjoy little attacking pleasure.
On the balance of chances, Les Bleues should have won the game, wasting numerous opportunities. In particular, Kadidiatou Diani was the key culprit, her game epitomised when a 90th-minute header pinged off the top of the crossbar following an array of chances throughout the game and summing up the French’s frustrating evening.
Wendi Renard, French Captain and arguably the world’s best centre back, represented a goal threat at set pieces and, having expertly lost her marker late in the first half, should have scored with a header.
In between France’s chances, Jamaica’s captain Khadija Shaw could have found the net when she thumped a free-kick through the wall but just wide of the far post.
“It was a difficult first half, we came up against a group of really athletic women,” France coach Herve Renard told reporters. “The second half was better, we created chances but unfortunately we were unable to find the back of the net.”
In contrast, Jamaica’s coach, Lorne Donaldson proudly states “I would say it is the number one result we have had so far. I think it’s the number one I have seen, men or women. I would put it there.”
Therefore, it was hard to make a convincing case for Les Bleus’s status as potential tournament winners as they were bereft of width lacking both rhythm and control which can on part be accounted for through injuries to key players. Nevertheless, the French will have considerable re-grouping to do ahead of Saturday’s tricky and crucial looking second group fixture against Brazil.
