Sweden clinched another bronze medal at the Women’s World Cup as they secured a 2-0 victory against tournament co-host Australia on Saturday, August 19th. The goals were netted by Fridolina Rolfo and Kosovare Asllani.
Maintaining their resilience after a semifinal defeat, the Swedish team demonstrated their formidable prowess, now boasting a perfect record of four wins in third-place matches. Their triumph took place in Brisbane.
For the Matildas, it was a disappointing conclusion to their impressive journey, which saw them make it to the semifinals for the first time, captivating the home nation’s attention.
Throughout the tournament, attendance records were shattered, fan zones across the country were bustling, and two of Australia’s matches became the highest-rated shows on domestic commercial TV in the past two decades. Despite these successes, the host team experienced consecutive losses in the end.
In the 30th minute, Rolfo expertly converted a penalty kick, curling a left-footed shot into the net, after Australian defender Clare Hunt was penalized following a VAR review for a foul on Stina Blackstenius.
However, Asllani sealed the victory in the 62nd minute with a well-executed strike, capitalizing on a Swedish counterattack from long range.
The final showdown in Sydney on Sunday will feature European champions England and Spain.
