Sweden squeeze past South Africa in World Cup opener

FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 – Group G – Sweden v South Africa

Soccer Football - FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Group G - Sweden v South Africa - Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand - July 23, 2023 Sweden's Amanda Ilestedt celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Amanda Ilestedt 90th minute winner gave Sweden a 2-1 win over South Africa in their Women’s World Cup Group G match on Sunday.

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, the lanky Ilestedt jumped highest and squeezed the ball home to save her team’s blushes.

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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.

Reuters/NAN

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