Day 10 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup saw action involving teams from Groups G and F, ranging from a dominant showing by Sweden to a pair of games too close for comfort, as spots in the knockout stage are starting to be secured.
A bit of history was made, too: Jamaica collecting its first Women’s World Cup win and Sweden registering its biggest victory at the tournament in 32 years.
THE RESULTS
GROUP G: Sweden 5, Italy 0 (in Wellington) – Game stats || Report
GROUP F: France 2, Brazil 1 (in Brisbane) – Game stats || Report
GROUP F: Jamaica 1, Panama 0 (in Perth) – Game stats || Report
MAIN TALKING POINTS
Sweden reaches knockouts with dominant performance
With one game still to go in the group stage, Sweden booked its ticket to the knockout round with a dominant win over Italy, marking that nation’s worst defeat at a Women’s World Cup. It was a victory that included three goals before halftime and a standout performance from one of Arsenal’s newest signings, Amanda Ilestedt.
Despite the one-sided scoreline, Ilestedt would not open the scoring until the 39th minute, heading home Jonna Andersson’s corner in what had been a very close game. By the time she and her team were done, their 5-0 win would mark their biggest margin of victory at the tournament since an 8-0 win over Japan in 1991.
Italy had solid chances from Sofia Cantore, but as the Italians conceded again just five minutes later — this time Fridolina Rolfö getting in on the action off one of Andersson’s corners — they began to unravel. Barely a minute after that, Stina Blackstenius, converting Johanna Kaneryd’s cross from close range, made it 3-0 before the half.
Ilestedt added her second goal (and Sweden’s fourth) in the 50th minute, replicating her opening tally with another header. And while Cantore had more opportunities for Italy just 10 minutes later, substitute Rebecka Blomqvist netted the fifth and final goal in Sweden’s domination in stoppage time.
France’s captain saves game with 83rd-minute winner
In 11 previous matches, Brazil has never been able to defeat France. Les Bleues have won six times and the sides have drawn five times. With almost 50,000 fans cheering on the Seleção, they looked to get their first win over the French.
But France veteran Eugénie Le Sommer had other ideas, getting the scoring going early when she headed the ball into the net in the 17th minute, having missed on another attempt just four minutes earlier. In the process, she extended her national-team record with her 90th international goal.
The French tempo was much stronger than in their previous match against Jamaica, but the Brazilians kept up. Kansas City Current striker Debinha perfectly timed a run into the box, controlled the ball on her first touch with her shin, and put the ball past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin to level the game in the 58th minute.
In the end, captain Wendie Renard would play hero with the game-winner in the 83rd minute, heading the ball off a corner that bounced past a diving Letícia, as France continued its unbeaten streak against Brazil, which now needs a win in its final group match to advance.
Jamaica wins first-ever World Cup match
Before kickoff, Jamaica and Panama made history by marking the first time two Concacaf teams met in the group stage at the Women’s World Cup.
History was made at the final whistle as well as the Reggae Girlz won their first match at a Women’s World Cup, just days after tallying their first-ever point in a draw against France.
In the first half, both teams were unable to find any sort of chance at the net, with Jamaica’s best attempt coming off a Drew Spence free kick before the break, only to see a Yenith Bailey save keep the game scoreless.
Just 10 minutes into the second half, skipper Allyson Swaby broke the deadlock, scoring Jamaica’s second goal in a Women’s World Cup when her header off a corner went in at the back post. It marked the first time the Reggae Girlz had held a lead in a World Cup match.
The intensity kept up between the two teams as Panama found ways into Jamaica’s final third, playing much better than in its 4-0 opening match defeat to Brazil. In the end, it was not enough, as the defeat ended Panama’s chances of advancing.
MOMENT OF THE DAY
With France’s 2-1 win over Brazil, manager Hervé Renard became the first manager to win a match at both the men’s and women’s World Cup. Renard claimed a 2-1 victory with Saudi Arabia over eventual men’s World Cup champions Argentina in Qatar last year.
GOAL OF THE DAY
Debinha scored her first-ever goal at the Women’s World Cup and levelled the score against France, controlling a through-ball by taking her first touch off the side of her shin to get a step on the defender and find the back of the net for Brazil.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I’m impressed — it’s not the first time I’m impressed by these players, by the way, it’s ingrained in their mentality somewhere to just keep going.” — Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson
THREE STARS OF THE DAY
1. Amanda Ilestedt, Sweden: Bagging a brace against Italy means that no one in the Women’s World Cup has more goals than the Swedish defender, topping an already huge performance in scoring the game-winner against South Africa.
2. Wendie Renard, France: Doubtful to even appear in the match against Brazil after picking up an injury in France’s opening match, the team’s captain stepped up when her team needed it most to score the game-winner for Les Bleues.
3. Allyson Swaby, Jamaica: With star striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw sidelined after having received two yellow cards, the Reggae Girlz skipper delivered one of the most meaningful goals in Jamaica’s history as it won its first ever match at a Women’s World Cup.
LOOKING AHEAD
Group H will kick off the action when Korea Republic faces off against Morocco at 12:30 a.m. ET Sunday / 9:30 p.m. PT Saturday in Hindmarsh. Then, it’s do-or-die for the Group A fixtures as Norway faces the Philippines in Auckland at 3 a.m. ET / midnight PT, and Switzerland taking on host New Zealand at the same time in Dunedin. Group H will finish off the day with Germany and Colombia facing off at 5:30 a.m. ET / 2:30 a.m. PT in Sydney.
