Second-half goals break China

Sweden 2-0 China
Sweden remain unbeaten in 2009 after overcoming China 2-0 in Jonkoping on Sunday, with coach Thomas Dennerby handing senior debuts to central defender Karin Lissel and full-back Lina Nilsson, a second-half substitute.

Pacy move
China produced the early pressure, and Sweden could make little headway until after the break, when Kristin Hammarström came on in goal for Hedvig Lindahl. Sweden showed the value of pace five minutes after the interval, with Kosovare Asllani winning the ball in the centre circle and sending a through ball down the right which Lotta Schelin easily won ahead of the Chinese defenders. The Olympique Lyonnais striker immediately crossed and while Victoria Svensson could not quite control the ball, Sjögran was on hand to tap in from close range.

Fumbled shot
One of Sweden's six second-half substitutes, Jessica Landström doubled their lead 15 minutes later. Once again the move started on the right flank. This time Asllani was given plenty of time to surge into the penalty area by a retreating Chinese defence, and though her left-footed shot lacked power and was parried clear, Landström picked up an easy rebound to make it 2-0. Sweden were in complete control throughout the second half and now travel to Finland for their next friendly against the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ hosts on Wednesday. Svensson said: "We were solid and played well. There is no doubt who were the best team today, even though we can play a little better."

Sweden: Lindahl (Hammarström, 46); Pålsson (Nilsson, 55), Lissel, Rohlin, Thunebro; Asllani (Forsberg, 72), Seger, Fischer (Landström 55), Sjögran (Almgren, 83); Svensson, Schelin (Lindén, 83).