Sweden scores two late goals to rally for 2-1 win over Canada

Despite holding a 1-0 lead with just over ten minutes left to go in Sunday's Women's World Cup Semifinal in Portland, the Canadian women gave up two late goals to Sweden, who were then able to hold off the Canadian attack for the final few minutes for a 2-1 victory in front of 27, 623 fans at PGE Park.

Canada came out on the attack early, and in just the 5th minute, a Charmaine Hooper shot forced an early save from Swedish goalkeeper Caroline Joensson, and then two minutes later, another Canadian opportunity went unfinished when a shot from the left side was blocked back by the Swedish defense, and then the rebound shot was blocked wide.

In the 9th minute, Sweden had their first good opportunity when a cross from Victoria Svensson had Hanna Ljungberg open in the box, but her header from 8 yards out was just wide right. One minute later, Ljungberg got her foot to a loose ball near the top of the box as Canadian goalkeeper Taryn Swiatek charged off her line, but the shot was wide to the right.

In the 18th minute, Svensson was again causing trouble for the Canadian defense, and twice had chances inside the Canadian box but both times was blocked off the ball by the Canadian defense. One minute later, after a Svensson shot had been blocked wide right, the ensuing corner was headed right at the Canadian keeper by Ljungberg.

After the sides traded a few good chances each that were either cleared by the defense, or resulted in shots right at the respective keepers, in the 37th minute, Svensson worked around to Swiatek's left but was unable to put a shot on net as the Canadian defense closed down quickly. One minute later, a dangerous through ball to the path Svensson had the Swedish striker running onto the ball as it neared the Canadian box, but Swiatek came out of her box to clear the ball just as Svensson got a foot on it, and the threat was ended.

In the 39th minute, Swiatek's made a brilliant save on a chipped shot from the right side by Sweden's Malin Andersson, as the shot dropped towards the bar, Swiatek was just able to get a hand on it to knock it over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Sweden had a golden opportunity to take a halftime lead when after Swiatek fumbled a cross, Svensson was unable to put a rebound on net. Canada nearly stole a late goal just before the half when a Kara Lang shot from 15 yards out at an angle hit off the crossbar, but neither team was able to find the net in the first half despite close calls, and the half ended tied at 0-0.

The Canadians nearly took a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute by accident. After a Kristina Kiss cross was fumbled in the box by the Swedish keeper, the loose ball was almost immediately kicked just wide right by Christine Latham, who didn't even seem to realize the ball had hit off her leg until after it was already over the endline.

In the 60th minute, Sweden had two good looks at goal, but was unable to put either shot on net, with the first shot by Malin Mostroem going wide left, and the follow-up by Svensson going wide right.

In the 63rd minute, Mostroem had another good look for Sweden from 25 yards out, but her hard shot from an angle was a yard or two over the bar.

Just one minute later, Canada shocked Sweden with a surprising goal, when on a Canadian free kick from outside the box to the keeper's left, instead of a cross into the box looking for a header, Lang hit a dipping shot towards the upper left corner, and though Joensson got a hand on the shot, she only managed to deflect it off the left post, but the shot caromed into the net, and the Canadians had surged out to a 1-0 lead.

In the 72nd minute, Sweden's Mostroem had a good look at net from 20 yards out, but once again was unable to put the shot on net, with this one going wide right. Three minutes later, Ljungberg did well to get her foot on a difficult cross, but her bouncing shot went wide left of the Canadian goal.

But in the 79th minute, Sweden finally pulled the goal back, when after a quick re-start by Svensson, Mostroem ran past all Canadian defenders down the right side of the box, and shot just inside the near post from 10 yards out to even the score at 1-1.

Sweden had the momentum now, and three minutes later a Svensson shot from inside the Canadian box required a quick diving save by Swiatek to the keeper's right. But in the 86th minute, Sweden carried their momentum to a 2-1 lead when a Svensson pass found second-half substitute Josefine Oequvist in the box, and Swedish striker hit a low shot in off the left post that gave Sweden the late 2-1 lead.

Canada did get one final good chance in stoppage time, when a free kick by Kiss went diagonally through the Sweden box untouched, just eluding foot of Lang, who lunged desperately for the ball at the far post, but the ball bounded over the endline untouched, and moments later the final whistle blew, and Sweden was through to the final while Canada will move on to face the US in the 3rd place match.

Match report and game photos by Allison Andrews