Page 26 - Irish Examiner USA

sportsexaminer
26

2019 Sweden Through To Netherlands Reach The Women’s

3rd, World Cup’s Final Four
July Semi-Finals After

|
EXAMINER Shocking Germany

weden pulled off a
IRISH Sover Germany in lock in the 16th minute. suffering a broken toe in the
2-1
opening group match, replac-
victory
Paris St Germain midfield-
shock
ing Linda Dallmann.
er Sara Dabritz stole posses-
Rennes to reach the semi- sion just inside the Sweden It was Sweden, though,
finals of the Women’s half and drove forwards, who were in front after 48
World Cup. chipping a pass into the minutes.
Germany, the Olympic penalty area. Bayern Fridolina Rolfo’s header
champions, had not conced- Munich’s Magull flicked the was saved by Schult but
ed a goal in the tournament ball up before beating goal- Blackstenius was alert to Holland reached the Women’s World Cup semi-finals for
so far as they coasted into the keeper Hedvig Lindahl with knock the loose ball in from the first time after second-half headers from Vivianne
last eight. an acrobatic volley. close range. Miedema and Stefanie Van Der Gragt earned a 2-0 win over
Sweden, though, pro- Sweden, though, pro- Blackstenius almost added Italy.
duced a resolute display at duced a swift response after a third when sent clear down Prolific Arsenal striker Miedema glanced home Sherida
Roazhon Park to come from defender Linda Sembrant the left and cutting inside, Spitse’s free-kick to break the deadlock with 20 minutes
behind following Lina sent a long clearance up field, only to slip in the penalty remaining in the sweltering heat of Valenciennes.
Magull’s acrobatic goal in the which bounced over the area. Defender Van Der Gragt secured a deserved Dutch suc-
16th minute. German defence and was col- With 15 minutes left there cess 10 minutes later, nodding home another Spitse set-
Sofia Jakobsson equalized lected by her Montpellier was another cooling break, piece.
after latching onto a long team-mate Jakobsson. before Germany felt they had Italy were second best at Stade du Hainaut and twice
pass up field in the 22nd The forward powered into a penalty claim after saved by the woodwork while the game remained goalless.
minute, before Stina the penalty area and drilled a Alexandra Popp collided with In the build-up to the match, Holland’s request to push
Blackstenius’ close-range low drive past Almuth Schult the Sweden keeper when back the afternoon kick-off because of the heatwave in
header put the Scandinavians into the bottom left corner. jumping for a header. France was turned down by tournament organizers.
ahead early in the second Because of the searing Following a lengthy VAR The searing temperatures resulted in scheduled drink
half. temperature at Roazhon review, referee Stephanie breaks and contributed to a drab, uneventful opening 45
Germany pressed for an Park, the teams were given a Frappart signaled play to con- minutes.
equalizer and saw a Video cooling break just after the tinue as Popp was ruled to Italy’s Valentina Bergamaschi directed an early volley
Assistant Referee turn down half-hour. have been marginally offside straight at Dutch goalkeeper Sari Van Veenendaal following
a penalty for a marginal off- Sweden soon threatened in the build-up. Barbara Bonansea’s flick-on, and later scuffed wide when
side, with Lena Oberdorf and again when Blackstenius Germany continued to well placed.
Marina Hegering then both made the most of a slip by a press for an equalizer, with At the other end, Miedema’s effort from distance and
heading late chances wide. German defender to race Oberdorf heading wide after Spitse’s tame free-kick were both comfortably claimed by
Sweden, who have never clear, with her angled drive the Sweden keeper failed to Laura Giuliani.
won the World Cup, will go pushed over the bar by connect with a cross from the Italy, playing their first World Cup quarter-final since
on to face Holland, who ear- Schult. right. 1991, were the lowest-ranked team left in the tournament
lier beat Italy 2-0, in Lyon on At the start of the second During stoppage time, and considered by many as this year’s surprise package.
Wednesday. half, Germany midfielder Hegering sent her header at They began to be pressed back in their own half in the
Germany had started Dzsenifer Marozsan came on the back post over as Sweden second period as the Euro 2017 winners took control of the
brightly and broke the dead- for her first appearance since closed out a famous victory C tie.
Dutch forward Lieke Martens, who scored the last-
minute penalty to beat Japan in the last 16 and shrugged off
a toe injury to start, twice had sights of goal but lacked the
power to beat Giuliani.
Arsenal’s Danielle Van De Donk was unfortunate not to
open the scoring in the 58th minute with a curling effort
from the edge of the box which bounced back off the cross-
bar following a partially-cleared corner.
Italy continued to ride their luck and were once again
reliant on the frame of the goal when midfielder Spitse’s
powerful free-kick from distance glanced the base of the left
post.
However, they could not hold out for much longer and
Sarina Wiegman’s side duly went ahead with 70 minutes on
the clock.
Spitse delivered an inviting, in-swinging set-piece from
wide on the left, allowing Holland’s record scorer Miedema
to flick home her 61st goal for her country and third of the
competition.
Italy suffered a further blow 10 minutes later when
Barcelona player Van Der Gragt climbed high at the back
post to power home Spitse’s floated free-kick from the right.
Substitute Daniela Sabatino had a chance to set up a tense
finish but her close-range effort was repelled by Van
Veenendaal as Italy’s hopes of a comeback ended. C