A second-half goal from Jessica Landstrom got Sweden’s women’s World Cup campaign off the mark here on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over newcomers Colombia in their opening Group C tie. The 57th-minute goal came after a string of near misses from the bungling Swedish frontline but it was enough to secure all three points in their first meeting against the South Americans.
“It was unfortunate that I missed some chances but I never doubted that I would score sooner or later,” said 26-year-old Landstrom. “It was a good feeling to make the first goal. It’s my first tournament goal and it’s a big goal for me.” Coach Thomas Dennerby added: “We should have been able to score one or two more goals but we have three points and that’s what counts.”
It was a worthy debut on the world stage for the young Colombians, who took to the pitch after the news that veteran goalkeeper Yineth Varon had been kicked out of the tournament for failing a doping test. The 29-year-old tested positive following an out-of-competition test in Leverkusen last Saturday and is now suspended from all football pending an inquiry, but has the right to ask for her ‘B’ sample to be analysed. However, the 31st-ranked Colombians proved on the pitch that they were more than a match for the fifth-ranked Swedes despite the Scandinavians’ obvious physical superiority which they used to their advantage.
The Swedes dominated early but struggled to find the goal. Striker Lotta Schelin missed a chance after three minutes to open when alone in front of goal, but her weak effort was cleared on the goal-line by Colombian skipper Natalia Gaitan.
Seven minutes later it was the turn of captain Caroline Seger to aim a timid kick at goal. The Swedes missed a golden opportunity again on 12 minutes when Schelin set up Landstrom, only for the Frankfurt-based striker to send her effort over the bar at close range. The Colombians were hit when Gaitan was stretchered off briefly after being barged by Landstrom, with Seger then booked for a foul on Daniela Montoya. Colombian star midfielder Yoreli Rincon failed to impose her game and the 17-year-old sent the resulting free-kick wide.
Back after the break it was more of the same from Sweden as a run by Schelin past goalie Sandra Sepulveda towards an empty goal saw the 27-year-old Lyon player fire wide. A further dreadful effort from Landstrom after 57 minutes had Dennerby shaking his head in disbelief.
But seconds later the disappointment turned to joy as Landstrom picked up a Schelin cross and finally found the target to the delight of the 21,000-plus crowd. Midfielder Carmen Rodallega missed Colombia’s best chances to level after 66 minutes and in the dying minutes. “The match was tough,” said Colombia coach Ricardo Rozo.
“Sweden is a big team and went after us from the beginning.
They have obvious physicial abilities and we saw they could impose their play.” Sweden have reached the quarter-finals at four of the last five World Cups, missing out only at China 2007, when they were eliminated in the group phase. The 1984 European champions next play North Korea on July 2 in Augsburg and the United States on July 6 in Wolfsburg. The South Americans next meet world number one the United States on July 2 in Sinsheim, with their final group game against North Korea in Bochum.
