Sweden has to be kicking itself after its first Group C match against Colombia in the 2.011 World Cup.
The Swedes were heavy favorites going into the match against first-time World Cup participant Colombia.
After being unable to finish on several changes, Sweden walked away with a 1-0 victory.
Colombia never gave up in the match and kept the pressure on Sweden until the final whistle.
Sweden's only marker came in the 57th minute.
Forward Lotta Schelin advanced the ball following a turnover and slipped a nicely weighted cross past diving Colombian goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda and onto the foot of forward Jessica Landstrom, who slotted the ball into the empty net.
Despite wanting more goals, manager Thomas Dennersby was able to find a silver lining. "We won our opening match.
It's been awhile since that's happened."
Dennersby is sugarcoating the situation.
Before the Colombia match on June 28, Sweden had never won its opening match in the World Cup in five previous attempts.
In fact, Sweden had never done anything in the first group match of the World Cup but lose until 2007 when it drew with Nigeria 1-1.
Despite the initial setbacks in World Cups, Sweden's worst finish was the quarterfinal round every time until 2007 when it didn't escape its group.
Colombia's best chance to equalize came in the 66th minute when Carmen Rodallega's shot was just a little too high to find the back of the net.
Landstrom should have scored just 13 minutes into the match. Before that, Sweden had two golden opportunities cleared off the goal line by Colombian defenders.
Ultimately, I think Sweden will be just fine in group play.
Now that it already has three points in the standings, a draw against North Korea should be all Sweden needs to find the quarterfinal round again for the first time since 2003.
Colombia is in better shape right now than North Korea, which lost 2-0 to the United States in the other Group C match.
Sweden will play North Korea next on June 2, a team it defeated 2-1 in the 2007 World Cup.
Colombia plays the United States next on June 2.
The Swedes were heavy favorites going into the match against first-time World Cup participant Colombia.
After being unable to finish on several changes, Sweden walked away with a 1-0 victory.
Colombia never gave up in the match and kept the pressure on Sweden until the final whistle.
Sweden's only marker came in the 57th minute.
Forward Lotta Schelin advanced the ball following a turnover and slipped a nicely weighted cross past diving Colombian goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda and onto the foot of forward Jessica Landstrom, who slotted the ball into the empty net.
Despite wanting more goals, manager Thomas Dennersby was able to find a silver lining. "We won our opening match.
It's been awhile since that's happened."
Dennersby is sugarcoating the situation.
Before the Colombia match on June 28, Sweden had never won its opening match in the World Cup in five previous attempts.
In fact, Sweden had never done anything in the first group match of the World Cup but lose until 2007 when it drew with Nigeria 1-1.
Despite the initial setbacks in World Cups, Sweden's worst finish was the quarterfinal round every time until 2007 when it didn't escape its group.
Colombia's best chance to equalize came in the 66th minute when Carmen Rodallega's shot was just a little too high to find the back of the net.
Landstrom should have scored just 13 minutes into the match. Before that, Sweden had two golden opportunities cleared off the goal line by Colombian defenders.
Ultimately, I think Sweden will be just fine in group play.
Now that it already has three points in the standings, a draw against North Korea should be all Sweden needs to find the quarterfinal round again for the first time since 2003.
Colombia is in better shape right now than North Korea, which lost 2-0 to the United States in the other Group C match.
Sweden will play North Korea next on June 2, a team it defeated 2-1 in the 2007 World Cup.
Colombia plays the United States next on June 2.
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