By Kieran Yap 30/5/24
Above: Chloe Lincoln looks on after Sweden’s third goal.
Sweden 3-0 Australia
The Australian Under 23’s began the four nations tournament with a 3-0 loss to Sweden.
The damage was done in the first half with two early goals from Johanna Renmark and a close rang finish from Ebba Handfast settling the result.
The Under 23’s looked sharp in the opening minutes. Hana Lowry was deployed in a more advanced role than she has been at Perth Glory and had the game’s first shot on target after Australia’s press spilled the ball loose.
Chloe Lincoln pulled off a very strong one on one save and Alexia Apostolakis stopped a certain shot on goal with a skilfull sliding tackle while retaining possession.
Similarly to the senior side, The Under 23’s looked to play out from the back at all costs. It is a risky tactic, especially with a team that had never started a match together, but it is a big part of this program to ready players for the senior Matildas, and game style is crucial to that.
It is however, how the first goal was conceded. Hesitancy on the ball created an opening for Renmark, and she was simply more clinical than Lowry was with her similar opportunity earlier on.
The second goal was well taken, but unlucky. With the ball on the wing, right back Bryleeh Henry was turned and the cross found Renmark to scuff her shot home from close range. There was a momentary pause among the Australia camp as Henry seemingly went down injured under no contact. Sweden played on and took advantage, but for a minute hearts were in mouths as teammates and staff feared the worst.
Henry was able to play on and was not subbed out until midway through the second half to the relief of anybody watching.
Sweden’s third goal came after Australia’s efforts to clear a corner resulted repeated efforts from the hosts. At the third attempt, Handfast bundled the ball home.
Australia had their chances to attack, although they found moving the ball through midfield difficult against the organized Swedes, when they did get forward, they looked dangerous. Ana Margraf was industrious and creative in midfield. Leah Davidson delivered an excellent cross after a clever move to lose the defender on the right.
Laura Hughes and Leah Davidson were strong in midfield, and most of Sweden’s joy came down the flanks.
The Swedes defensively were very structure and physical. They paid special attention to nullifying Daniela Galic before she could have any time on the ball. Kahli Johnson was kept wide, and the Swedish defenders did not let her get an easy pass away.
Australia’s back four were all good individually, but the goals looked like a result of a defence that had not played much football as a unit. It is something that is likely to improve over the next few games.
There were positives. Henry looks to be continuing to develop into a top quality fullback, Apostolakis rarely looks flustered, Margraf is a quiet chance for a senior call up and Lowry was lively in an attacking role. These games are about development, and although winning is a big part of that, these players will have each learned something from this game. Clinical finishing in the final third was the main difference between these sides, and despite the scoreline, Australia was not played off the park.
The tough tests continue as Australia face Germany on Sunday morning (AEST).
Teams: SWEDEN: Mukasa, Selerud, Handfast, Pelgander, Leidhammar, Kapocs, Ijeh, Sprung, Renmark, Holmberg, Pennsater. Substitutes used: Reidy, Schroeder, Akgun, Andersson, Paljevic, Holmqvist.
Scorers: Renmark 11′, 30′. Handfast 41′.
AUSTRALIA: Lincoln, Apostolakis, Henry, Margraf, Hughes, Johnson, Rankin, Davidson, Lowry, Tonkin, Galic. Substitutes used: Gooch, Boughton, Gomez, Rue, L. McKenna, Thomas-Chinnama.
Referee: Selma Griberg.
Attendance: 1,405.
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