Triumph in defeat; Australia's story in the 2023 Women's World Cup

Zanire

Australia's fantasy home World Cup closes in defeat to Sweden in third-place playoff

After finishing first in their group, fairytale triumph over Denmark and France to book a place in the semifinal, It has been a landmark and history making period for Australia in the Women's World Cup (the co-host of the 2023 edition of the competition). 

However, the Matildas' journey in the competition finished in a 2-0 loss to Sweden in the third-place playoff on Saturday (19/8/2023).

Despite the lost, this feat of the Matildas has stamped a new and better chapter in Australia Women's football, following a World Cup which has seen football craziness and excitement seize the nation as the Matildas accomplished its best ever result in any football tournament both male and female at the national level.

No one needs to show up in the third-place playoff and it ordinarily creates a muffled environment, yet it was the stack opposite for the Australian fans in their show of support towards the Matildas in this World Cup that even after Sweden had taken an at last unassailable 2-0 lead, the Australian crowd in Brisbane actually cheered each pass, each tackle, each probing run.

Sweden, In any case, confronting this Australian fervent crowd, showed its class as a penalty from Fridolina Rolfö in the first half and a spectacular goal from captain Kosovare Asllani gave the blågult vicory and third spot.

The Matildas, meanwhile, finish fourth having never advanced past the quarterfinals in past competitions.

Sweden had the better of the early trades, driving the Matildas off the ball and dominating possession. The Blågult had shown plan from the absolute first moment, as Stina Blackstenius outperformed the Australian defense, locked onto Asllani's pass and discharged a shot at the Australian goal but a diving save from goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold redirected the danger.

Though Australia was at first restricted to counteroffensives, it seems at some point as if the tide had begun to turn as the Matildas' light blue away shirts streamed upfield and supported a time of tension for the Swedish defense.

Then, similarly as the Matildas were finding a traction in the game, Sweden handled a mallet blow in the 30th minute when the Video assistant referee (VAR) awarded a penalty against Australia for contact in the box.

Rolfö stepped up and calmly dispatch the ball into the back of the net, inches beyond Arnold's outstretched fingertips to make it 1-0

The Blågult nearly took a 2-0 lead into the break as Filippa Angeldal fired the ball towards the goal not long before half time, but Arnold stepped up and scooped the ball off the ground, and kept Australia reachable.

Sweden never showed up liable to give up its lead and though the Maltildas continued to press after half time, they continued coming up short on clinical edge, frequently tumbling off possessions and their endeavors towards goal left Swedish goalkeeper Zećira Mušović somewhat untroubled.

Asllani's snapshot of magic came in the 62nd moment as she broke clear in midfield and found Blackstenius. The forward was intensely marked and passed the ball back to Asllani on the edge of the box who fired the ball into the corner of the net, past a plunging Arnold.

Asllani strike proved to be the final moment of real action in the match. 

Sweden will be hoping to take it a step further in the next edition of the World Cup. Australian Women, however, will be gutted to not have taken it a step further in this edition, but they also have a lot of positives to take from the tournament especially after inspiring a whole nation

Player of the match: Stina Blackstenius (Sweden)

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