FIFA WWC: Amanda spoils Banyana Banyana party as Sweden beat South Africa 2-1 

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist

Amanda Ilestedt scored a last-minute winner to help her country, Sweden to beat South Africa in the first Group G match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Wellington, New Zealand early Sunday morning.

The 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions came close to picking up their first point at a World Cup, having lost all three matches on their only previous appearance in 2019, after Hilda Magaia had put the Rainbow Nation ahead early in the second half.

South Africa opened the scoring with a 48th-minute goal from Magaia who bundled the ball into Sweden’s net after Thembi Kgatlana’s shot was parried to her part by Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic.

But the goal was cancelled out by a deflected Frida Rolfo effort before Ilestedt’s decisive header in the dead to leave South Africa without a win in four World Cup games as they lost three group matches in their debut in 2019 in France.

South Africa almost took an early lead when captain Refiloe Jane saw Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic off her line and attempted an audacious strike from 40 yards out, with the ball ending up on the roof of the net.

While Desiree Ellis’ side impressed on the counter-attack, Sweden – ranked third in the world – struggled to create clear-cut chances, and Filippa Angeldal forced the only save from Kaylin Swart in the first half with a tame effort from a free-kick routine.

South Africa raced out of the blocks after the break, finding the opener when Musovic could only parry Thembi Kgatlana’s deflected shot into the path of Magaia, who ran the ball into the net for her nation’s second World Cup goal.

Magaia was absent from her team’s celebrations, injuring herself as she bundled the ball into the net, and was substituted shortly after.

As Sweden committed more players forward in search for an equaliser, South Africa enjoyed more counter-attacking opportunities and continued to look the more threatening side.

But their hard work was cancelled out when Rolfo’s touch from Johanna Kaneryd’s cross was deflected by Lebohang Ramalepe into her own goal.

Sweden Head Coach Peter Gerhardsson’s side continued to push forward but were denied by solid South Africa defending until Kosovare Asllani’s corner was met by Ilestedt with a strong header to make it 2-1 at full time.

The result has left Africa without any win after three of her four teams have played their opening matches with Nigeria drawing Canada in Melbourne on Friday while Zambia woefully lost 5-0 to Japan on Saturday. Morocco is yet to play their first game in the competition.