England 0-1 Sweden

UEFA Women's European Championship
Blackburn Rovers FC, Ewood Park
11 June 2005

An early goal by Anna Sjostrom ended England’s Euro dream as Hope Powell’s team, despite controlling the vast majority of possession, failed to get the result they needed to clinch a place in the Women’s Euro 2005 semi-finals.

The result meant that Sweden go through t the semis as group winners while Finland, who beat Denmark 2-1, finished as runners-up.

At Ewood Park it despair for another bumper crowd, the massed ranks of fans having chanted and cheered throughout a game in which England battled from first minute to last and were desperately unlucky to lose.

The crowd of 25,694 meant that a total of 69,481 spectators gave their backing to Powell’s team over their three group games, the first of which had ended in a 3-2 victory over Finland and the second a 2-1 defeat by Denmark.

For the encounter with Sweden, who England had not beaten for 21 years, the National Coach made two changes from the Denmark match. Everton’s Rachel Brown replaced Jo Fletcher in goal and Charlton Athletic striker Eniola Aluko took over from Amanda Barr up front.

Brown’s first task was to pick the ball out of the net, Sjostrom flicking the ball over the line from close range after left winger Therese Sjogran’s third minute corner had bounced into her path off midfielder Katie Chapman.

It was a dreadful blow for England, but they quickly regained their composure and pressed forward for an equaliser.

Hedvig Lindhal was forced into her first save in the 10th minute, the Sweden keeper holding on to an angled shot by left winger Rachel Yankey after midfielder Kelly Smith had created the opening.

As England began to win the midfield battle the pressure started to mount on the Swedes, but their defence stood firm as Kelly Smith and Fara Williams attempted to create openings behind the back four.

The home nation almost levelled the scores in bizarre fashion after 35 minutes, however. Lindhal rushed off her line to intercept a long through-ball from Williams, but her hacked clearance struck Aluko square in the face and the ball bounced agonisingly wide of the far post.

The Swedes had another narrow escape in the last minute of the opening half, Sjogran heading over her own bar under pressure from captain Faye White after left back Rachel Unitt had headed on right winger Karen Carney’s corner.

Yankey sent a long range shot over the bar in first-half stoppage time, then two minutes after the interval Williams headed over the top from a Carney cross.

Maintaining their momentum, England continued on the offensive and after Carney’s 53rd minute drive had been deflected wide Chapman headed over from the resultant corner.

Goalkeeper Brown had been under-employed for much of the match but made a vital contribution in the 63rd minute, diving at the feet of Victoria Svensson as she tried to force the ball home from her strike partner Hanna Ljungberg’s pass.

As England quickly regained the initiative Lindhal had to make a goal line save from Yankey’s clever back-heeled shot following a cross by right back Alex Scott.

But as play moved into the closing stages England’s all-out exertion began to take its toll and, despite pushing forward in ever-increasing numbers as the clock ran down, they were unable to force an equaliser.

England 0-1 Sweden, UEFA Women's European Championship, 11 June 2005

England: Rachel Brown, Alex Scott, Rachel Unitt, Katie Chapman, Faye White (capt.), Mary Phillip, Fara Williams, Rachel Yankey, Kelly Smith, Karen Carney (Amanda Barr, 70), Eniola Aluko.
Subs: Jo Fletcher, Jody Handley, Emily Westwood, Casey Stoney, Vicky Exley, Anita Asante, Lindsay Johnson, Leanne Hall.

Sweden: Lindahl, Tornqvist, Marklund, Bengtsson, Mostrom, Larsson, Ljungberg, Svensson, Sjogran, Seger, Sjostrom.
Subs: Jonsson, Westberg, Ostberg, Andersson, Schelin, Karlsson, Astrom, Paulsson, Oqvist.

Goals: Sjostrom 3

Referee: Ms N. Petignat (Switzerland)
Assistant referees: Ms E. Luthi (Switzerland) and B. Logarusic (Croatia)

Attendance: 25,694