CNN —It has been a history-making, game-changing Women’s World Cup for Australia, but the Matildas’ participation in the tournament ended in a 2-0 defeat to Sweden in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
Still, this match marked new frontiers for women’s soccer in Australia following a World Cup which has seen soccer mania grip the nation as the Matildas achieved its best ever result in the tournament.
For Sweden, finishing third is a familiar way to end the World Cup, having done so in 1991, 1995 and 2019, and it marks a brighter end to the tournament after a heartbreaking loss to Spain in their semifinal’s dying moments.
Sweden dominatesSweden had the better of the early exchanges, forcing the Matildas off the ball and dominating possession.
Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesRolfö stepped up and coolly prodded the ball into the side netting, inches beyond Arnold’s outstretched fingertips, and gave Sweden a 1-0 lead.
Persons:
Fridolina, Kosovare Asllani, Blackstenius, Mackenzie Arnold, Fridolina Rolfö, Justin Setterfield, Rolfö, Filippa Angeldal, Arnold, Zećira, Sweden's Amanda Ilestedt, Australia's Hayley Raso, Amanda Perobelli, halve, Claire Polkinghorne’s, Sam Kerr –
Organizations:
CNN, Australia, Sweden
Locations:
Sweden, Australia, Brisbane, Spain, Asllani