Sweden steal 2-1 win over South Africa in World Cup opener

MARTY MELVILLE/ AFP

Amanda Ilestedt 90th minute winner gave Sweden a 2-1 win over South African in their Women's World Cup Group G match on Sunday after Fridolina Rolfo had cancelled out Hildah Magaia's opener.

From Sweden's 11th corner of a game played out in pouring rain in the New Zealand capital, Ilestedt jumped highest and squeezed the ball home to save her team's blushes.

Earlier, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's cross skewed off defender Lebohang Ramalepe and bounced into the net off Rolfo to hand the Swedes a lifeline in the 66th minute after South Africa's Magaia had broken the deadlock two minutes after the break.

The result left the third-ranked Swedes top of Group G, before Italy and Argentina play their opener in Auckland on Monday.

More from Sports News

  • Forward Delap joins Chelsea ahead of Club World Cup

    Forward Liam Delap has joined Chelsea on a six-year contract ahead of this month's Club World Cup, leaving Ipswich Town after they were relegated from the Premier League, the West London side said on Wednesday.

  • Boisson shocks Andreeva as Djokovic sets up Sinner showdown

    Wild card Lois Boisson stunned sixth seed Mirra Andreeva to reach the French Open semi-finals, before Novak Djokovic set up a clash with world number one Jannik Sinner.

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru lift IPL trophy

    Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their talisman Virat Kohli ended a 17-season drought by winning their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title, beating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

  • Stead stands down as New Zealand coach after seven years

    Gary Stead will stand down as Black Caps coach at the end of June, New Zealand Cricket said on Wednesday, bringing to an end a highly successful seven-year reign that included the capture of the inaugural World Test Championship title.

  • Alcaraz bludgeons Paul to reach French Open semis

    Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz steamrolled past American 12th-seed Tommy Paul 6-0 6-1 6-4 at the French Open on Tuesday with a jaw-dropping display of attacking tennis in one of the most one-sided men's quarter-finals in Paris in recent memory.

News