Sweden complete safe passage

Sweden qualified for the 2005 UEFA European Women's Championship after moving into an unassailable position at the top of Group 1 with a 5-1 defeat of Serbia and Montenegro in Växjö.

Podovac opener
Despite the lopsided nature of the scoreline, the Swedes did not have it all their own way at the Värendsvallen and went in behind at half-time following Danka Podovac's 34th-minute opener. Malin Andersson missed a penalty for Sweden, who could not find the fluency which saw them reach last year's FIFA Women's World Cup final.

Sweden fightback
After the break they asserted their authority, though, and defender Jane Törnqvist prodded in the equaliser in the 55th minute. Anna Sjöström gave Sweden the lead five minutes later and Malin Moström made it 3-1 in the 69th minute. There was no way back for the visitors following the dismissal of Dragana Stojanovic, and Victoria Svensson and an own goal from Milena Mitic completed the scoring.

Svensson century
"It feels good to qualify," said Svensson, who won her 100th cap. "Now we can focus on the Olympic games and next summer's European Championship." Coach Marika Domanski Lyfors said of her half-time team talk: "I told the girls that we had to be more focused, get back to basics and play the game at our pace, which worked well."

Memorable week
Sweden have 18 points from six matches, ten more than second-placed Italy who have played a game less. Qualification for next summer's finals in England caps a memorable week for Swedish football, with Umeå IK having beaten the German champions 1. FFC Frankfurt 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Women's Cup semi-final.