Ilestedt at the double as Sweden seals their spot

Amanda Ilestedt scored twice as Sweden cruised into the knockout stage with a 5-0 win over Italy at FIFA World CUP Football Group G Match Played on Saturday.

• Amanda Ilestedt became the joint-top scorer with a headed brace
• Sweden advanced to the last 16 with a game to spare
• Corners were a vital weapon for the Olympic silver medalists

Sweden 5-0 Italy | Group G

Goalscorers: Ilestedt (39′, 50′), Rolfo (44′), Blackstenius (45+1′), Blomqvist (90+6′)

Set pieces again proved crucial as Sweden swept aside Italy to qualify for the last 16. Just as in their opening match against South Africa, Amanda Ilestedt emerged as the team’s unlikely goal hero, undoing Le Azzurre with two towering headers.

Jonna Andersson corners laid on each of those goals and another from Fridolina Rolfo, with open-play efforts from Stina Blackstenius and Rebecka Blomqvist offering eye-catching exceptions to the rule.

Yet although the scoreline might suggest that Peter Gerhardsson’s side were rampant throughout, they struggled during the early stages, only hitting their stride as half-time approached.

Nerves seemed to be settled when that Andersson-Ilestedt double act combined for the first time, with the latter providing a deadly glancing touch to direct home the former’s perfectly weighted inswinging corner.

Andersson was at it again five minutes later, flighting in another wonderful cross from the same spot that caused chaos in the Italian ranks, enabling Rolfo to prod in an opportunistic second.

Italy was reeling, Sweden brimming with confidence, and the outcome was effectively settled in first-half stoppage time when Blackstenius popped up in the right place at the right time to round off a flowing team move.

The Arsenal striker is, however, becoming used to being outshone – and outscored – by her club team-mate, and Ilestedt added further gloss to the scoreline early in the second half with another brave near-post header.

Remarkably, the big center-back is now joint-leader in the race for the adidas Golden Boot, and she will have a chance to bolster her tally as Sweden goes marching on to the knockout phase.

With his seventh Women’s World Cup win as coach, Gerhardsson set a new Swedish benchmark. He had previously shared the national record with Thomas Dennerby and Marika Domanski-Lyfors, both of whom oversaw six victories at the global finals.

Amanda Ilestedt of Sweden declared VISA Player of the match