Sweden will play the second leg of the UEFA Women’s Nations League (UWNL) Third-place Playoff on Tuesday after losing to France 2-1 in Reims yesterday night.
Following their quarterfinal elimination at last summer’s UEFA Women’s EURO, Sweden was defeated 5-0 on aggregate by Spain in last month’s UWNL Semi-finals. last is the most recent in a concerning string of poor performances.
Late in the first half, France increased their pressure, and Anna Sandberg caught Kadidiatou Diani inside the area. Three minutes into extra time, France took the lead thanks to a penalty that Sakina Karchaoui struck into the bottom corner after the home team was handed one after a VAR review.
It was a poor moment to give up, but Sweden recovered brilliantly in the second half and tied the score in the 67th minute when Hanna Lundqvist’s cross found Stina Blackstenius, who headed in the equaliser.
France win in the Nations League against Sweden
But that proved to be Blagult’s only attempt on goal in the second half, and his lack of skill paid off late on when Griedge Mbock glanced in a Karchaoui corner at the near post, giving France a 2-1 victory in the ninetieth minute.
The young Swede scored an assist during Sweden’s 1-2 loss to France in the first leg of the Nations League third-place match. Stina Blackstenius was headed in when she made her signature overlapping run and lofted a precise ball into the penalty area.
Sandberg won six of her eight ground duels that evening in addition to two tackles. In a very successful evening, the left back also made three crucial passes and found her target four times from crosses. To have any chance of placing third in the UWNL, Sweden now has to win in Solna on Tuesday.
