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The Blagult deserved to progress after dominating the match in Augsburg for large periods of the game, but they were made to work hard for the victory by a young Aussie side who showed huge commitment to get back into the game after conceding two early goals.
Player of the match Lotta Schelin had a great chance to open the scoring when Collette McCallum's back pass almost failed to make it back to the keeper, but the Lyon forward failed to control the ball properly and the threat passed.
At the other end, Australia seemed intent on peppering the Sweden defence with crosses from either flank, but the well organised Scandinavians coped well with the pressure.
The deadlock was broken in the 11th minute when a long ball from the back was collected by Schelin who showed some magic to get past FIFA Women’s World Cup debutant Ellyse Perry, before cutting the ball inside for Therese Sjogran who took one touch before firing inside Melissa Barbieri’s near post.
Sjogran was the architect for Sweden's second five minutes later when her cross from the right was inch perfect for the virtually unmarked Lisa Dahlkvist to head home. Josefine Oqvist had a good opportunity to make it three when she leapt above Kim Carroll to connect with Schelin’s cross, but her effort was well off target.
Sweden were in total control and Australia were struggling to get out of their own half. It looked as though they would lead either a moment of magic or a mistake to get them back into the game. It almost arrived in the 38th minute when McCallum's free-kick caught Hedvig Lindahl unawares and off her line, but much to her relief, the ball sailed wide.
Australia pulled one back two minutes later - and what a goal it was. A short corner from McCallum was played Perry on the edge of the box. She took a touch to control the ball with her right foot and then launched an unstoppable left footed drive into the top corner of the net.
In their previous two games, Australia had gifted goals to the opposition and unfortunately for Tom Sermanni’s side they made it three in a row at the worst possible time. Carroll casually attempted to play the ball back to the keeper, but failed to spot Schelin. The Sweden forward gratefully accepted the chance, rounded Barbieri and slipped the ball into the back of the net.
Backed by the Augsburg crowd, the Matildas refused to give up and almost reduced the deficit when Tameka Butt’s cross from the right was headed just wide by Kyah Simon. Minutes later, Lisa De Vanna may have regretted not squaring the ball to her strike partner after one of her trademark lung-bursting runs into the box. After beating Lindahl to the ball, the forward opted to shoot herself rather than square the ball to Simon who would have had an easier opportunity to make it 3-2.
As time ticked away, Barbieri almost took the ball over her own line after collecting a cross from the right awkwardly, while at the other end, Lindahl made a fantastic diving save to deny Butt’s drive from 25 yards.
Sweden celebrated a place at the Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 as well as the semi-finals at the final whistle, while Australia will almost certainly be back in four years time stronger for their experiences this time around.
Player of the match: Lotta Schelin (SWE)
Quarter-finals
Sweden - Australia3:1 (2:1)Match Date Venue / Stadium Time Attendance
27 10 July 2011 Augsburg / FIFA Women´s World Cup Stadium, Augsburg 13:00 24605
Goals scored
Therese SJOGRAN (SWE) 11', Lisa DAHLKVIST (SWE) 16', Ellyse PERRY (AUS) 40', Lotta SCHELIN (SWE) 52'
Sweden
Line-up
[1] Hedvig LINDAHL (GK)
[2] Charlotte ROHLIN
[4] Annica SVENSSON (-92')
[5] Caroline SEGER (C)
[6] Sara THUNEBRO
[7] Sara LARSSON
[8] Lotta SCHELIN
[14] Josefine OQVIST (-83')
[15] Therese SJOGRAN
[16] Linda FORSBERG (-67')
[17] Lisa DAHLKVIST
Substitute(s)
[12] Kristin HAMMARSTROM (GK)
[21] Sofia LUNDGREN (GK)
[3] Linda SEMBRANT
[9] Jessica LANDSTROM
[10] Sofia JAKOBSSON
[11] Antonia GORANSSON
[13] Lina NILSSON (+92')
[18] Nilla FISCHER [Y] (+67')
[19] Madelaine EDLUND (+83')
[20] Marie HAMMARSTROM
Coach
Thomas DENNERBY (SWE)Australia
Line-up
[1] Melissa BARBIERI (GK)(C)
[3] Kim CARROLL [Y]
[6] Ellyse PERRY (-59')
[7] Heather GARRIOCK [Y]
[8] Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT
[9] Caitlin FOORD
[10] Servet UZUNLAR
[11] Lisa DE VANNA [Y]
[12] Emily VAN EGMOND (-58')
[14] Collette McCALLUM (-79')
[17] Kyah SIMON
Substitute(s)
[18] Lydia WILLIAMS (GK)
[21] Casey DUMONT (GK)
[2] Teigen ALLEN
[4] Clare POLKINGHORNE (+58')
[5] Laura ALLEWAY
[13] Tameka BUTT (+59')
[15] Sally SHIPARD (+79')
[16] Lauren COLTHORPE
[19] Leena KHAMIS
[20] Samantha KERR
Coach
Tom SERMANNI (AUS)Cautions
Kyah SIMON (AUS) 23', Therese SJOGRAN (SWE) 67', Heather GARRIOCK (AUS) 80', Nilla FISCHER (SWE) 81'
Sent off
Sweden (SWE) Statistics Australia (AUS)
15 Shots 12
6 Shots on goal 3
3 Goals Scored 1
20 Fouls Committed 5
5 Fouls Suffered 19
3 Corner kicks 9
1 Free kicks Shots (scored) 2
0 / 0 Penalty Kicks (Goals/Shots) 0 / 0
3 Offsides 2
0 Own Goals 0
2 Yellow cards 2
0 Second yellow card and red card 0
0 Red Cards 0
27 Actual playing time 28
49% Possession (%) 51%
Sweden-Australia: Quotes
Sweden coach Thomas Dennerby
We are very satisfied to have reached the semi-finals and that we’ve gained the chance to play at the Olympic Games in London. Up to yesterday we thought our opposing team in the semi-finals was going to be Germany, but now we have to concentrate on winning against Japan. We do not have very good memories of playing against them, but we hope to do better this time. We will work out a promising tactical plan and our players will work hard to go one step further.
Australian coach Tom Sermanni
Sweden played a formidable match, but we are very proud of our efforts as well. Unfortunately we made too many simple mistakes. Even in the half time we were very confident to come back and win the game. But after their last goal it was extremely difficult. Considering the whole tournament, we do have very good and particularly talented players. The biggest disappointment is the fact that we just give to many goals to our opponents. But as I always say, we never give up at any moment.
Sweden forward and player of the match Lotta Schelin
We were a little nervous before we went out, but there is a fantastic atmosphere in our team and we pulled each other through.
Therese Sjorgran, Sweden midfielder
I think we have a good chance to win against Japan. We’ve already played them and we are well prepared. We need to have a good defence because they come through the midfield. It is nice that I scored, but Lotta (Schelin) did a great job, too. I’m very proud though. It doesn’t matter to me if I scored the goal or assisted, the important thing is that we won. We will have to perform well to beat Japan, but we are taller and have to use that to our advantage.
Linda Forsberg, Sweden forward
It was a tough game and they played quite well, but we held them up. We are satisfied now. We just had to keep trying and keep going in the game. It was important that Lotta (Schelin) scored and now is more confident. We now have to take one game at a time and also focus on one game at a time.
Kyah Simon, Australia forward
On the one side, I am disappointed, but on the other side, I am happy about reaching the quarter-finals. But we are hungry for the next tournaments and we will do a better job. Sweden was today the better team and they deserve the semi-finals. It was a great experience for me at my first World Cup and I am looking forward to the next ones. The time was great and I enjoyed it. I am pleased about my own performances too.
Servet Uzunlar, Australia defender
The time in Germany was fantastic and I enjoyed it. Lotta Schelin’s performance was great today and that’s why we struggled, because we didn’t have enough place to buckle up. She is really quick.
a.e.t.: After extra time (C): Captain PSO: Penalty Shoot-out
GK: Goalkeeper N: Not eligible to play I: Injured
Y: Misses next match if booked Pos: Positions A: Absent
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