2020 Tokyo Olympic Games women’s football: Sweden too good for Matildas – as it happened

Missed this earlier, but Björn Isaksson weighs in on Kerr’s claim for a penalty in the first half:

“Hej, Björn from Sweden here. Might be a bit partial, even if that is normally just the immediate reaction and not as I look at the replay. But Is not Kerr more lucky to avoid a card for diving than Sweden are to avoid a penalty? Kerr gets a touch on the right leg, this could have brought her down if it tripped up her left. But her left legs is thrown out to the left and as far as I can see she is actively diving as soon as she feels a slight touch and realizes that she can get to the ball anyway.”

Kind of moot now, Björn, but I see what you’re saying.

90 min +5: Yep, Australia are fighting it out to the end but there is a sense of resignation to it all. This time, Carpenter’s ambitious shot from range misses everything. By some way. Last rites time. They have been brave, Australia, but ultimately outclassed. Another delay with Blackstenius receiving treatment to her left leg. She might be done.

90 min +2: Lots of tired bodies out there. The game has been played at speed, in heat, from box to box. The Matildas keep coming but Sweden are now parking the bus. Fowler wins a corner but nothing comes from it.

90 min: A nice lofted ball by van Egmond into the box but in a game of inches Australia can’t do anything meaningful with it. The Matildas are running out of time but they do have six minutes of added time with which to conjure something.

86 min: Kerr is through on goal and again you would put money on her scoring but again she is denied by Lindahl, who is having one heck of a night despite letting in two goals. Kerr would ordinarily eat those but this time it’s not to be. Both she and Lindahl have had an eventful night.

84 min: You’d think that strike would take the stuffing out of Matildas but they keep coming, this time Foord making a dangerous run in the box but letting herself down with a heavy first touch.

They think it’s all over. Blackstenius delivers what looks to be the killer blow, latching onto a devilish Asllani cross and heading past Micah.

79 min: More subs for both teams, with the tireless Raso making way for Fowler. In the Matildas box it’s Sweden’s turn to appeal for a penalty but, again, it’s denied. VAR not interested.

77 min: Deft footwork and ball control by van Egmond as she dances past defenders, but the last line has it covered and Australia will have to go again. And they do. Kennedy releases Raso, who forces a corner. It’s a deep one, in search of Kerr, and the skipper looks like she might have another claim to a penalty courtesy of a push, but nothing doing.

73 min: How deflating will that penalty miss be for Australia, and how energising will it be for Sweden, as legs and brains tire in the run to the line? A big effort is required here but the Matildas have it in them against an opposition of pure class. Two substitutions for Australia: Cooney-Cross on for Yallop and Kennedy on for Luik.

69 min: Kerr – who else?! – steps up to the spot, Lindahl’s arms stretched out, the Matildas skipper the epitome of concentration. And she’s missed! It’s a pretty poor penalty, no width or venom, and the Sweden keeper holds her ground to parry the spot kick away. Galling for Australia. You’d have put your house on Sam there. So she is human after all.

67 min: Foord goes down in the box and there did seem to be a leg in there from the Sweden defender, but the ref waves the plea away – as she has done most of the night. The whistle has stayed in the pocket.

But VAR is interested…

Yikes. Rolfö can sure hit a ball so it’s a wonder Australia are giving her such space around the box. A nice gather and burst of acceleration is all she needs to set up this thunderous strike, a left-footed rocket from range that whistles past Micah. And to think Australia were in front not that long ago.

58 min: Asllani releases Rolfö with a delightful ball that is initially dealt with before Seger unleashes a cracking attempt from range that cannons off the crossbar. Suddenly looking very shaky at the back, the Matildas. Another substitution for Sweden, with Hurtig making way for Blackstenius.

Well, that lead didn’t last very long. Australia become stretched at the back as Jakobsson gets away from Luik on the right before crossing low to Hurtig, who drills the ball past Micah from the centre of the box. Level pegging again.

Kerr again!!!!!!!! Beautiful invention by Foord on the left to first get away from her opponent and then set up Kerr with a chip that is headed past the keeper by the Matildas captain. Sweden looked stunned at what has just occurred. As well they might be. Advantage Australia.

46 min: We’re back for the second half. A substitution at half-time for the Swedes with Glas off and Bjorn on. Some defensive tweaking there, no doubt with Kerr in mind. An early cross in the box for the Matildas but it’s just out of Kerr’s reach.

A gripping half of football that looked all over to be going Sweden’s way on the back of Rolfö’s opener. But you’re never out of it when Sam Kerr is in your team, and her equaliser after 36 minutes breathed life into what seemed a subdued Matildas outfit. Not long after, Kerr had a serious penalty shout waved away. Her ever-present threat will be a topic of much discussion in the Sweden rooms at half-time. Don’t you be going anywhere.

45 min: Energised, Australia look to find another way through Sweden’s defensive line. But composure returns and it looks like we will be heading to the break locked at 1-1. I say that, then Asllani gets in the way of a Micah clearance that spills out of play but could easily have been worse for Australia. Two minutes of added time.

40 min: Wowie, that goal has put the cat back amongst the veritable pigeons.

And how is that not a penalty?!?! Kerr – that woman again – is through on goal and (seemingly) brought down from behind by Glas. But the ref waves away Kerr’s pleas and VAR backs it up. Hmmm. Play on. She did have a fair case there, Kerr.

Sam Kerr!!!!!!! Goal No 44 for the superstar and this one was much needed and rather against the run of play. Delightful, angled ball in by Simon on the left and Kerr knows precisely where to be, getting in just behind a defender and heading past Lindahl to restore parity. Game on in Saitama.

33 min: A shoulder nudge by Carpenter on Hurtig does enough to fell the Sweden forward but not enough to attract penalty. Barely moments later, Australia are again cut down wide on the pitch – this time on the left – and it’s almost 2-0 but Hurtig just can’t get her foot to the ball.

31 min: Nice run by Kerr to infiltrate the Sweden box but Seger is a picture of concentration and stops the Matildas skipper in her tracks. A bit going on there – Eriksson hit the deck at one point – but Seger’s stop, gather and release is the only thing that matters. It was a thing of beauty.

Douglas Sery writes in: “As an American living in Sweden having had a fairly long term relationship with an Australian woman while living in London, I’m torn about who to cheer for.”

I see your dilemma, Doug. Maybe cheer on football itself?

27 min: Raso and Foord try to manufacture something, anything, but this Sweden back four is almost telepathic. Each knows what the other is doing. The Matildas will need to be equal parts patience and creativity to find a way through.

24 min: That was a savage blow for Australia but time is on their side. But they will need better connection in the final third than this as Yallop looks for Kerr but fails to find her with a lofted ball.

That was rather too easy. Jakobsson finds herself with oodles of space down the right, crossing a ball in low that Australia fail to deal with – it’s left to Rolfö to slot it past Micah and register her 15th goal for her country. Clinical by Sweden. Worrying for Australia.

15 min: Australia knock the ball around in their own half, waiting for the right moment to challenge this well-organised Sweden outfit. And now the ball is moved forward, Sweden do the same. Cat and mouse in Saitama.

12 min: Raso gets a clear shot on goal, from range admittedly, but there’s not enough penetration and it’s an easy take for Lindahl.

10 min: Kerr looks to be on the improve, moving freely to give Sweden a thing or two to think about at a corner that they deal with but not entirely convincingly. A bit of a cagey beginning from both teams. Lots at stake here.

6 min: Australia look for Simon on the right and though she’s pacy, she’s not fast enough to see off the Sweden left-back. Foord then finds Kerr – and remarkably she has time and space just outside the box – but Seger stops her from behind. It was a fair tackle but Kerr doesn’t look so good. Not moving the best.

4 min: Australia creep forward with some short, delicate passing but the final ball – the one meant for Kerr – is cut off. Luik then gets the better of Glas just when Sweden look to build something at the other end of the ground.

2 min: Micah comes off her line and it was a nicely timed bit of rushing out as the Matildas keeper meets and defeats what might have been a threatening through-ball.

1 min: Anthems done and sung. Sweden in the fluorescent yellow and Australia in the predominantly green. Though with Australia’s coaching staff in bright yellow, this could get confusing. Regardless, we are away and it is time for action. The Matildas with the first attacking move but it is rebuffed by the imposing Swedish back four. They will be hard nuts to crack tonight.

In case you need reminding – well, you never know – there is a bit more going on in Tokyo than just the Sweden-Australia game.

And for all that matters, you really need look no further than here.

But, of course, Australia scored two goals against their Trans-Tasman neighbours. Tameka Yallop was all smiles after notching the opener and with good reason – check out the interview below to get inside the mind of a player who not long ago was wracked by insecurity and fear.