Impressive Sweden shoot down Brazil

Sweden 3-1 Brazil
Sweden recovered from a goal down to secure a friendly victory in front of the third highest attendance of all time for a women's match in the country.

Attendance
Brazil arrived from holding Germany 1-1 in Frankfurt, and Cristiane, who played for Swedish club Linköpings FC last year, gave the visitors to Gothenburg's new Gamla Ullevi stadium a 13th-minute lead during a first half in which the visitors enjoyed plenty of possession against the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ finalists. After the break, though, last month's Algarve Cup winners upped their game and turned the match on its head with two goals inside a minute from Sara Thunebro and Victoria Svensson before a late strike from Lotta Schelin confirmed victory in front of 12,257 fans.

Set-piece reward
Brazil were in control early on, with Marta – back in the country she called home for five years beforing moving to Los Angeles Sol from Umeå IK this winter – at the centre of the visitors' best moves. It was from one of those that Brazil went in front when Cristiane edged ahead of Schelin to steer home a corner. Aline then tested Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl with a strong header, though it was Sweden, having pressed hard after the break, who came close to levelling when the lively Thunebro crossed for Jessica Landström, whose effort was scrambled clear.

Late winner
The Brazilian defence then repelled efforts from Svensson and Nilla Fischer but it was not long before the pressure told, Thunebro's free-kick eluding everyone in the Brazil penalty area and sailing into the bottom corner. From a goal down, Sweden were soon 2-1 up with Svensson heading in another Thunebro set-piece. Schelin confirmed an impressive victory seven minutes from time, firing in from close range after seizing on a clearance from the Brazilian defence.