Sweden raise roof by sinking five past Finland
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Article summary
Finland 0-5 Sweden
The hosts overwhelmed their opponents to equal the biggest ever win in a UEFA European Women's Championship final tournament.
Article top media content
Article body
Sweden enjoyed a perfect night in Gothenburg, overwhelming Finland as they recorded a 5-0 victory that equals the UEFA European Women's Championship final tournament record.
The UEFA Women's EURO 2013 hosts also got both their star strikers on the scoresheet, Kosovare Asllani and Lotta Schelin (2). Yet their first two goals came from a more unlikely source as centre-back Nilla Fischer's set-piece prowess set up a commanding win that lifts Sweden top of Group A on goal difference.
Sweden were on the attack from the start, Sofia Jakobsson soon outstripping Finland down the left to start an attack that ended with Tinja-Riikka Korpela blocking Asllani's effort. It was a sign of things to come for the Finland keeper, standing tall amid wave after wave of attacks. On 15 minutes, after a succession of corners, her resolve was broken as Fischer met Marie Hammarström's delivery at the near post.
It was Fischer's second of the tournament and she soon grabbed a third from yet another corner – Sweden had 21 over the 90 minutes. The manner was different, the defender tapping in after Korpela had parried Asllani's acrobatic volley. As chants of "Nilla Fischer!" rang out, Sweden struck again as Asllani rose to guide in a beautiful cross from Jakobsson.
It was 3-0 at half-time and Sweden took their foot off the gas slightly in the second half, but the full house at the Gamla Ullevi was chanting another name on the hour: "Lotta! Lotta!". Gothenburg-bred Schelin it was who slammed in number four after a defence-splitting pass from strike partner Asllani.
Finland had no response, substitute Tiina Saario mustering their first shot on target of the night on 79 minutes from range, and with full time approaching Schelin made it 5-0 with a glancing header from a Sara Thunebro free-kick. Substitutes Lisa Dahlkvist and Antonia Göransson also tried their luck from distance but Korpela, perhaps Finland's best player, held firm.
Player of the match: Nilla Fischer