Asllani assists; makes 150th international appearance in Sweden’s 4-2 win over Australia

Real Madrid’s Kosovare Asllani made her 150th international appearance and assisted in Sweden’s 4-2 win over Australia. Asllani played the full 90 minutes.

Sweden got on the ball immediately and Australia sat in a mid-block and tried to attack quickly when they recovered possession. Australia grew into the match and had success in transition and down the flanks.

Sweden took the lead after Asllani recovered possession in the final third. She passed to Sofia Jakobsson, who sprinted down the right. Jakobsson cut it back to Fridolina Rolfo and Rolfo side-footed the ball past the Australian goalkeeper in the 20th minute.

Rolfo almost turned provider in the 34th minute. She played a curling first time cross across the 18-yard box and Lina Hurtig slid but couldn’t extend her leg quick enough to poke the ball goalward.

Australia made Sweden pay on the other end. Kyah Simon had time and space to play a measured in-swinging cross and Sam Kerr peeled off her defender. She headed the ball at Hedvig Lindahl, who couldn’t keep it out.

Australia believed they had won a penalty kick after Kerr dribbled through the penalty box, She was chopped down by Hanna Glas but the referee did not award a penalty and the teams went into halftime tied at 1-1.

The Matildas started the second half on the front foot and Sam Kerr gave Australia the lead in the 49th minute. Caitlin Foord was played down the left side and she played an inch-perfect cross to the head of Kerr. She made no mistake.

Sweden struck back through Hurtig. Filippa Angeldal played a defense-splitting ball to Jakobsson in behind. The former Real Madrid winger played a perfectly weighted ball to Hurtig, who was clobbered by a defender and she bundled the ball into the net.

In the 58th minute, Sweden almost took the lead. The Matildas didn’t close down Caroline Seger and she launched a shot from distance that drifted over the Australian keeper and clanked off the post.

Rolfo got her brace with a powerful strike from distance. She was able to receive on the turn with time and space and she put her laces through the ball. Rolfo blasted the ball into the back of the net, making it 3-2.

In the 68th minute, the referee trotted over to the monitor to review an Angeldal challenge on Foord. Kerr stepped to the penalty spot and Lindahl denied the Australian striker her hat trick.

The Matildas put Sweden under pressure in search of another equalizer. Sweden sat back and absorbed pressure. Sweden withstood the pressure and then struck. Asllani got the ball at the left corner of the 18-yard box and swung in a cross to the head of Stina Blackstenius, who scored her third goal in two Olympic matches.

Sweden will play their final match of Group G on Tuesday, July 27. The Swedes will kickoff against New Zealand at 4:00 a.m. EST.