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At Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington: Sweden 2 (Fridolina Rolfo 65’, Amanda Ilestedt 90’) South Africa 1 (Hilda Magaia 48’) HT: 0-0
Amanda Ilestedt was the hero as Sweden fought back from a goal down to deny South Africa an historic result in their first match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Bayana Bayana took a shock lead in the 48th minute but Fridolina Rolfo, the scorer of the winning goal in last month’s UEFA Women’s Champions League final, and Ilestedt saved the world No. 3’s blushes by scoring late goals to rescue a comeback 2-1 win at a wet Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday.
South Africa had never won a World Cup match after losing every game on their debut in 2019.
Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
Superstar forward Fridolina Rolfo celebrates after equalising for Sweden.
But they came agonisingly close to creating history with a major scalp against one of the tournament favourites after Hilda Magaia fired South Africa in front three minutes into the second half.
Magaia bundled the ball into the back of the net after Sweden goalkeeper Zećira Mušović spilled the initial shot from Thembi Kgatlana, which had taken a heavy deflection.
Along with the ball, Magaia ended up in the back of the goal after scoring and appeared to injure her wrist, after being kicked by a Swedish defender and getting stuck in the net.
The hero for South Africa was substituted just a few minutes later and received a huge applause from the crowd of 18,317 as she walked around the outside of the pitch and made her way to the bench.
Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
Hildah Magaia ended up in the back of the net herself after giving South Africa a shock lead.
After giving South Africa the lead, Magaia could only watch on helplessly as Sweden rallied late to snatch a come-from-behind win.
Rolfo tied the game with 25 minutes left to play after right-back Lebohang Ramalepe failed to deal with a cross from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, allowing it to run through to Sweden’s biggest-name player.
Rolfo, who completed the comeback for Barcelona in last month’s Champions League final against Wolfsburg, had barely been sighted during Sunday’s game, but she stepped up when Sweden needed her most.
The winner came in the 90th minute when Ilestedt headed home from close-range after getting on the end of a corner from captain Kosovare Asllani.
South Africa survived a VAR check for handball in the first half after Filippa Angeldal’s shot cannoned off Magaia’s elbow.
Despite Sweden’s protests, Magaia was judged to have had her arm in a natural position when the ball struck her elbow with force.
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