Ruthless Sweden marched into the quarter-finals of Euro 2022 after scoring three times in the first half to end Portugal’s interest in the tournament.
The team ranked second in the world proved too strong for their opponents and will return to Leigh Sports Village next Friday to face Iceland, Belgium or Italy.
Manchester City’s Filippa Angeldal fired her side into the lead after a weak clearance by Portugal keeper Patricia Morais, who was making her first appearance at the tournament.
Angeldal doubled the lead with a first-time shot following another set-piece, and it was 3-0 deep into first-half stoppage time when Carole Costa headed into her own net from a corner.
Kosovare Asllani made it 4-0 from the penalty spot before Stina Blackstenius, who had two goals ruled out earlier, added the fifth as Sweden produced a statement win going into the knockout stage.
“We had a plan to get more set-pieces and we were very strong,” said Sweden boss Peter Gerhardsson. “We are very strong and it is difficult to play against us.
“I think the third match was a factor that worked to our advantage. It meant Portugal didn’t have as much time to organise properly to attack us. I’m happy that we won the game and also that we won 5-0 to win the group.”
It was one game too far for Portugal, who lost to Russia in the play-offs only to secure a place in the tournament after Russia were expelled following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
But while the second-lowest ranked team at Euro 2022 exit with one point from three games, Sweden march on after their biggest win in England this summer.
Sweden send warning to rivals
Sweden had started the day behind defending champions the Netherlands, with whom they had played out a draw in their opening game. But although the Dutch beat Switzerland to finish level on seven points, the Swedes’ hammering of Portugal meant they topped Group C on goal difference.
The runners-up at last year’s Olympics had followed that opening draw by edging past Switzerland 2-1.
But this victory was every bit as comprehensive as the score suggests as Portugal, who saw Catarina Amado carried off on a stretcher in the first half, suffered in the baking heat.
“I think we started well but on set-pieces we did not compete,” Portugal boss Francisco Neto said. “At this level everything counts and it was very hard for us to stop the set-pieces of Sweden.”
The Swedes had been dealt a blow before the match when long-serving midfielder Caroline Seger was not deemed fit enough to start.
It was the first time she had missed a match at the European Women’s Championship since 2005.
But Sweden overcame her absence to produce an impressive performance that suggests they mean serious business, and they celebrated a fine victory at full-time in front of their jubilant travelling fans.
“For sure Sweden can get the trophy. They are very strong,” added Neto.
Player of the match
BlacksteniusStina Blackstenius
Sweden
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Squad number11Player nameBlacksteniusAverage rating
8.16
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Squad number9Player nameAsllaniAverage rating
8.02
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Squad number14Player nameBjörn
Average rating7.46
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Squad number22Player nameSchough
Average rating7.45
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Squad number18Player nameRolfö
Average rating7.31
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Squad number3Player nameSembrant
Average rating7.24
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Squad number2Player nameAndersson
Average rating7.16
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Squad number16Player nameAngeldahl
Average rating7.13
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Squad number19Player nameRytting Kaneryd
Average rating7.07
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Squad number20Player nameBennison
Average rating6.89
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Squad number23Player nameRubensson
Average rating6.77
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Squad number13Player nameIlestedt
Average rating6.67
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Squad number8Player nameHurtig
Average rating6.66
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Squad number4Player nameGlas
Average rating6.50
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Squad number1Player nameLindahl
Average rating6.41
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Squad number6Player nameEriksson
Average rating6.41
Portugal
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Squad number23Player nameTelma Encarnação
Average rating6.06
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Squad number4Player nameSílvia Rebelo
Average rating5.89
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Squad number5Player nameJoana Marchão
Average rating5.80
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Squad number19Player nameDiana Gomes
Average rating5.80
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Squad number2Player nameCatarina Amado
Average rating5.69
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Squad number21Player nameAndreia Faria
Average rating5.67
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Squad number13Player nameFátima Pinto
Average rating5.50
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Squad number16Player nameDiana Silva
Average rating5.50
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Squad number10Player nameJéssica Silva
Average rating5.47
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Squad number14Player nameDolores Silva
Average rating5.38
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Squad number8Player nameAndreia Norton
Average rating5.17
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Squad number15Player nameCarole Costa
Average rating4.92
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Squad number12Player namePatrícia Morais
Average rating4.60
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Squad number20Player nameKika Nazareth
Average rating4.58
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Squad number9Player nameAna Borges
Average rating4.57
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Squad number11Player nameTatiana Pinto
Average rating4.31
Line-ups
Sweden
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Lindahl
- 4Glas
- 13Ilestedt
- 6ErikssonBooked at 18minsSubstituted forSembrantat 55′minutes
- 2Andersson
- 16AngeldahlSubstituted forBennisonat 70′minutes
- 9Asllani
- 14BjörnSubstituted forRubenssonat 78′minutes
- 19Rytting KanerydBooked at 30minsSubstituted forSchoughat 54′minutes
- 11Blackstenius
- 18RolföSubstituted forHurtigat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Sembrant
- 5Nildén
- 7Kullberg
- 8Hurtig
- 10Jakobsson
- 12Falk
- 15Blomqvist
- 17Seger
- 20Bennison
- 21Musovic
- 22Schough
- 23Rubensson
Portugal
Formation 4-3-3
- 12Sousa Barros Morais
- 2Silva AmadoSubstituted forGaspar Silva Marchãoat 35′minutes
- 19Ribeiro Gomes
- 15da Silva CostaSubstituted forGarcia Rebeloat 85′minutes
- 9Marques BorgesBooked at 83mins
- 11Ferreira Pinto
- 14Jácome da SilvaSubstituted forFigueira Pintoat 57′minutes
- 8NortonSubstituted forVelosa Encarnaçãoat 85′minutes
- 10Manjenje Nogueira Silva
- 20Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth SousaSubstituted forMartins Fariaat 57′minutes
- 16Abreu de Sousa e Silva
Substitutes
- 1Teixeira Pereira
- 3de Figueiredo Lima Correia
- 4Garcia Rebelo
- 5Gaspar Silva Marchão
- 6Pires Cardozo
- 7Marques Malho
- 13Figueira Pinto
- 17Sousa Alves
- 18Trindade Coruche Mendes
- 21Martins Faria
- 22Campos Costa
- 23Velosa Encarnação
- Referee:
- Stéphanie Frappart
- Attendance:
- 7,118
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Sweden 5, Portugal Women 0.
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Second Half ends, Sweden 5, Portugal Women 0.
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Goal! Sweden 5, Portugal Women 0. Stina Blackstenius (Sweden) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Olivia Schough.
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Corner, Portugal Women. Conceded by Jonna Andersson.
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Substitution, Portugal Women. Telma Encarnação replaces Andreia Norton.
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Substitution, Portugal Women. Sílvia Rebelo replaces Carole Costa.
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Offside, Sweden. Linda Sembrant tries a through ball, but Stina Blackstenius is caught offside.
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Ana Borges (Portugal Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Lina Hurtig (Sweden) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Ana Borges (Portugal Women).
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Attempt missed. Fátima Pinto (Portugal Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Joana Marchão.
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Lina Hurtig (Sweden) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Jéssica Silva (Portugal Women).
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Substitution, Sweden. Elin Rubensson replaces Nathalie Björn because of an injury.
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Attempt missed. Andreia Norton (Portugal Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
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Corner, Sweden. Conceded by Patrícia Morais.
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Hand ball by Hanna Bennison (Sweden).
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Attempt saved. Olivia Schough (Sweden) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kosovare Asllani.
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Substitution, Sweden. Hanna Bennison replaces Filippa Angeldahl.
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Substitution, Sweden. Lina Hurtig replaces Fridolina Rolfö.