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Sweden pulled off a shock 2-1 victory over Germany in Rennes to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup.<\/p>\nSweden pulled off a shock 2-1 victory over Germany in Rennes to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup.<\/p>\n
Germany, the Olympic champions, had not conceded a goal in the tournament so far as they coasted into the last eight.<\/p>\n
Sweden, though, produced a resolute display at Roazhon Park to come from behind following Lina Magull’s acrobatic goal in the 16th minute.<\/p>\n
Sofia Jakobsson equalized after latching onto a long pass up field in the 22nd minute, before Stina Blackstenius’ close-range header put the Scandinavians ahead early in the second half.<\/p>\n
Germany pressed for an equalizer and saw a Video Assistant Referee turn down a penalty for a marginal offside, with Lena Oberdorf and Marina Hegering then both heading late chances wide.<\/p>\n
Sweden, who have never won the World Cup, will go on to face Holland, who earlier beat Italy 2-0, in Lyon on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Germany had started brightly and broke the deadlock in the 16th minute.<\/p>\n
Paris St Germain midfielder Sara Dabritz stole possession just inside the Sweden half and drove forwards, chipping a pass into the penalty area. Bayern Munich’s Magull flicked the ball up before beating goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl with an acrobatic volley.<\/p>\n
Sweden, though, produced a swift response after defender Linda Sembrant sent a long clearance up field, which bounced over the German defence and was collected by her Montpellier team-mate Jakobsson.<\/p>\n
The forward powered into the penalty area and drilled a low drive past Almuth Schult into the bottom left corner.<\/p>\n
Because of the searing temperature at Roazhon Park, the teams were given a cooling break just after the half-hour.<\/p>\n
Sweden soon threatened again when Blackstenius made the most of a slip by a German defender to race clear, with her angled drive pushed over the bar by Schult.<\/p>\n
At the start of the second half, Germany midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan came on for her first appearance since suffering a broken toe in the opening group match, replacing Linda Dallmann.<\/p>\n
It was Sweden, though, who were in front after 48 minutes.<\/p>\n
Fridolina Rolfo’s header was saved by Schult but Blackstenius was alert to knock the loose ball in from close range.<\/p>\n
Blackstenius almost added a third when sent clear down the left and cutting inside, only to slip in the penalty area.<\/p>\n
With 15 minutes left there was another cooling break, before Germany felt they had a penalty claim after Alexandra Popp collided with the Sweden keeper when jumping for a header.<\/p>\n
Following a lengthy VAR review, referee Stephanie Frappart signaled play to continue as Popp was ruled to have been marginally offside in the build-up.<\/p>\n
Germany continued to press for an equalizer, with Oberdorf heading wide after the Sweden keeper failed to connect with a cross from the right.<\/p>\n
During stoppage time, Hegering sent her header at the back post over as Sweden closed out a famous victory.<\/p>\n