WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2003  SWEDEN 2 : 1 CANADA

10-06-03 - Sweden got two goals in the final 11 minutes of the second half from Malin Moström and substitute Josefine Öqvist to claim a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Canada, who took an unlikely second half lead from Kara Lang's 65th-minute goal.

The second dramatic match of the day from PGE Park in Portland, Oregon completes the FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003 Final, which will take place on 12 October in the Home Depot Center and be an all-European contest with Sweden trying to knock off fancied Germany, who beat the U.S. 0-3.

Canada came out as expected and drove a long blast deep into the Swedish end right on the opening kick off. The Swedes brushed aside the early probe and quickly turned around, but Victoria Svensson could not quite reach a feed from Mostroem (2’).

Sweden goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson faced an early test as Charmaine Hooper got off a shot from four metres that Jönsson steered aside. The shot came after Christine Sinclair just beat Jane Törnqvist on a header that fell to Hooper, but Jönsson and Frida Östberg both got touches to it (5’).

Sweden slowly began to set the pace of the match as Svensson and Hanna Ljungberg darted around the Canadian defence. Canada, with their direct style, fell into a somewhat predictable though still-dangerous mode, relying on long balls aimed at Sinclair and Christine Latham.

Malin Andersson nearly set up Svensson with a needle-threading pass before the Sweden striker one-timed a pass from Anna Sjöstrom that Swiatek stopped for a corner. Törnqvist then rose up to head on the Andersson corner to Ljungberg, who got off a hard shot but right at Swiatek (20’).

Canada did cause a few anxious moments for the Swedes as their booming long balls found their targets. Jönsson snuffed out a chance when she grabbed a ball just in front of Latham (25’). Sinclair unleashed a shot that just went over the crossbar after Sweden gave up possession near the center circle.

Svensson had yet another chance when she slipped between Hooper and Sharolta Nonen and beat Swiatek, but she could not get the final touch before Hooper recovered to clear the ball (37’).

Andersson almost put Sweden in front when she knocked in a shot from the right touchline that beat Swiatek but caromed off the crossbar (39’). Svensson should have put Sweden up two minutes later when Swiatek dropped a Sjöström cross right at the Swede’s feet, but she touched her shot wide of the open net (41’). Canada turned around and with just two knocks gave Sweden a fright when Lang banged a shot off the crossbar from a tough angle (43’).

The second half started almost as disjointedly as the first ended. Canada had several throw-ins and a corner but they were unable to get off a shot while Sweden had problems clearing the ball. Sweden got the first real chance of the half thanks to some incredible ballwork from Ljungberg, when Moström had a perfect chance but she shot it wide. Svensson then joined the shot parade but she also hammered it wide when she had Swiatek out of position (60’).

Moström fired another shot just over the crossbar after Jönsson started a counterattack with a long throw. Sjöström got the ball into Svensson, who touched it to Moström, but the midfielder’s shot went high (63’).

Sweden came to regret its numerous misses when Kara Lang hammered a free kick past Jönsson after Törnqvist knocked down Latham 25 metres from goal. Lang blistered the shot towards the post and Jönsson simply could not hang on (0-1, 65’).

Sweden’s misfiring ways continued as Moström again launched a shot high, even though she had time to tee it up (72’).

Moström finally ended the drought as she picked up a perfectly placed through ball off a quick re-start by Svensson, and she ripped the ball into the back of the net (1-1, 79’). Svensson created the goal when she alertly took the kick after a foul on Ljungberg.

Buoyed by the equaliser, Sweden pressed forward in almost irresistible fashion as the Scandinavians pushed everyone into attack to find a regulation-time winner. Their hard work paid off when Öqvist knocked in a ball off the left post that caromed behind Swiatek for Sweden’s second goal. Svensson set up the play when she turned Dennis and drove the ball towards Öqvist. The youngster, who came as a substitute for Sjöström in the 70th minute, settled the ball and blasted it home before tearfully celebrating his first goal in the tournament (2-1, 86’).

Canada had one final try after Therese Sjögran fouled Kristina Kiss, who sailed the ball into the area, but Lang could not quite get her boot on the ball, and the Swedes were through to meet Germany in their first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup final (92’).

Sweden coach Marika Domanksi-Lyfors was pleased with her side’s fine performance. “We have worked hard for this for many years,” she said. “ We needed to adapt and respond and be our best tonight, and we did it.”

Asked whether she was intimidated by a final showdown with the European Champions, Bud Light Player of the match, Svensson fancies her side’s chances. “We have good players all over the field,” she said. “Germany are a very strong team, but we have strong defence and I think we have a good chance.”

Source: FIFAWorldCup.com

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