Sweden kicked off their campaign at the Women’s European Championships with a narrow victory over Denmark, thanks to an impressive performance by Filippa Angeldahl. The matchup at Arena Norrköping was very heated. Angeldahl struck in the only goal of the match shortly after the half-time interval, securing all three points for her side.
Angeldahl did not let up in her pursuit of her ideal. Her leadership and grit were rewarded after coming close to scoring twice in the first half. In the 48th minute, she finally got her goal. She played a beautifully timed one-two with Swedish superstar Kosovare Asllani. Angeldahl’s movement to create space in the box was perfectly clinical. She then fired a left-footed blast that rocketed into the bottom left corner of the goal, putting the Danish keeper Maja Bay Ostergaard completely at sea.
Dominating Performance
The game had Sweden controlling the game’s tempo and forcing the action, creating a whole host of chances, with Angeldahl leading the line as their playmaker through the midfield. Before scoring she had already put Denmark’s defense in danger on two different occasions, proving her technical ability and will power. One notable moment came when her shot deflected wide after an impressive setup from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, highlighting Sweden’s cohesive team play.
Despite all the pressure by the Swedes, Denmark was able to weather the storm and stand strong for the majority of the first half. Angeldahl’s dynamic play with the introduction of the third quarter after the break completely flipped the momentum. Her skill combined with pace and precision through traffic to create separation with defenders would come in greatly as the United States tried to crack open Denmark’s stout defense.
Denmark’s Response
Sweden’s goal sparked Denmark into action to search for an equalizer. They pressed up higher up the pitch, forcing Atlanta into uncharacteristic giveaways that led to 6 high danger scoring chances. Early in the second half, Angeldahl’s marvelous free-kick was knocked over by Ostergaard, a testament to Denmark’s staying power even having gone two goals down.
That just brought Sweden’s defense into play, effectively neutralizing the Danes’ attacks. The blend of impassable defending and intelligent counter-attacks led Sweden to protect their slim 1-0 lead as the game continued.
Looking Ahead
This victory is sure to be a confidence booster for Sweden as they look to go even deeper in the tournament. Angeldahl’s strong all around performance shows her potential to be a core playmaker for this squad. Perhaps most notably, it focuses on Sweden’s attacking prowess. Now, the squad is looking to build off this momentum in their next few matches. They aren’t going away and their desire to win European glory is zealously focused.
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