Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson described Amanda Ilestedt as a candidate for the Ladies’s World Cup golden boot after the towering defender scored twice together with her head in a 5-0 thrashing of Italy on Saturday that booked her nation’s berth within the final 16. A good contest was blown open in a seven-minute spell late within the first half when the Swedes, ranked third on this planet, discovered the web thrice, by way of Ilestedt, Fridolina Rolfo and Stina Blackstenius.
Arsenal centre-back Ilestedt bagged her second quickly after the interval to offer her three targets for the event — all headers from corners — together with a late match-winner of their opening 2-1 defeat of South Africa.
Substitute Rebecka Blomqvist rounded out the rout in stoppage time in entrance of almost 30,000 in Wellington.
The Swedes are assured of ending within the prime two in Group G, turning into the third workforce to e-book a spot within the knockout stage after Spain and Japan.
It was a flexing of the muscle tissue from one of many event favourites, who’ve a historical past of near-misses on the World Cup.
Their set-piece prowess was on full present, with three of the targets coming from left-footed inswinging corners delivered by Jonna Andersson.
Gerhardsson admitted corners are an essential a part of his workforce’s assault.
“Set items are very a lot construction and it is also approach after which it is braveness,” he stated.
“The service is essential and Jonna is superb at