Sweden are the champions of the 5th Australia Cup four-nation tournament after their 3-1 victory tonight over the Qantas Matildas in Canberra sent them to the top of the points ladder ahead of the home side.
Sweden, rated number five in the world, showed just why they are one of the game's all-time great teams with a polished display to dominate throughout the second half.
The Qantas Matildas, setback by numerous injury concerns since the team assembled in camp over a fortnight ago, were unable to match the class and experience of the Swedish outfit.
Both sides were fired up from the start, but it soon became clear that Sweden were creating the greater danger on goal led by veteran attacking dynamo Hanna Ljungberg.
However it was the Qantas Matildas who claimed the lead seven minutes before half-time. Kelly Golebiowski, celebrating her 50th cap for Australia, scored her third goal of the tournament with another pearler. Making a run up the centre of the pitch, Golebiowski received the ball from the right, controlled the ball and shook off her opponent before unleashing a cracker from 25 metres into the top of the net.
But Sweden cut short the celebrations, scoring the equaliser just two minutes later. Although surrounded by two opponents, striker Salina Olsson managed to get her shot away, neatly placing the ball home, to send the game into the break locked up at 1-1.
Australian captain Cheryl Salisbury did not make it back onto the pitch for the second half, suffering a leg muscle strain shortly before the break, and her commanding leadership and ability in the heart of the defence was to be sorely missed. The backline was already without Sacha Wainwright, ruled out this morning through injury.
The Swedes then snatched the lead four minutes after the restart. Defender Jane Tornqvist, unmarked out on the right, had the time to fire from long range, the attempt flying over the goalkeeper and into the top left corner of goal.
The visitors controlled proceedings from then on for the remainder of the clash, leaving a frustrated Australia with little time in possession of the ball. Olsson and teammate Therese Sjogran had the best of Sweden's chances to increase their lead, but without success. In the 74th minute, goal number three finally came, sealing a deserved victory for the Scandinavians. Kristin Bengtsson's corner kick from the right was misjudged by Australian Claire Nichols, the goalkeeper helping to direct it into her own net.
National/AIS Coach Adrian Santrac was pleased for the chance to play a team of Sweden's calibre, using them as a measure of Australia's current progress. "Sweden are right up there with the big four of women's soccer US, Norway, China, and Germany - there's very little between them," he said. "This has been a great opportunity for us, an opportunity to see where we are and where we want to be."
Santrac added, "We�ve had a number of injury concerns and we've done the best we can. We had to throw several players in at the deep end but that's also given these players the opportunity of this experience."