July 21 – Sweden shocked sky-high tournament favourites United States with two goals from Stina Blackstenius and a header from Lina Hurtig to get the Olympic women’s football tournament under way on Wednesday and dispel any doubts the event would be cancelled at the last-minute, following comments from Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto amid rising Covid-19 cases in the Japanese capital.
At the last Olympic Games, Sweden crushed the United States’ gold medal dream at the quarter-final stage with a win from the penalty spot, but Wednesday’s 3-0 victory was perhaps even more impressive for the sheer authority the Swedish displayed to dispatch the current world champions and gold medal favorites, ending a two-year, 44-game unbeaten streak for the United States.
Peter Gerhardsson’s Swedish team were dominant in midfield and dangerous in transition. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher excelled for the United States with several saves, but the underdogs took a deserved lead in the 25th minute when Blackstenius, on the scoresheet against the US in 2016 as well, headed the ball into the bottom left corner.
After the restart Sweden’s number eleven struck again, blasting the ball into the roof of the net from point-blank range following a set piece.
The Americans had to scramble now, but despite the heat and humidity of the Japanese capital, Sweden maintained total control, overpowering their illustrious opponents and shutting down America’s powerful front three.
The world champions introduced Megan Rapinoe, but instead it was Swedish substitute Hurtig who scored to ensure a well-deserved three points for the Europeans in Group G’s curtain raiser and blow the tournament wide open.
The United States will still be expected to progress to the knockout stages with matches to come against both Australia and New Zealand, but the defeat will serve as a major wakeup call for the team eyeing a first-ever World Cup/gold medal double. Their aura has been broken.
Elsewhere, Brazil, with veterans Marta and Formiga, were rampant in a 5-0 victory against China and Team GB defeated Chile with Manchester City striker Ellen White netting either side of the break in a 2-0 win.
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