Argentina 0-2 Sweden: Scandinavians top group as rivals crash out

Sweden were confirmed as World Cup Group G winners, setting up a last-16 clash with the United States, as they defeated Argentina 2-0 in Hamilton.

The Swedes had already clinched qualification for the next round after beating South Africa 2-1 and Italy 5-0 in their first two games, and could only be denied top spot with defeat and an unlikely-looking goal difference swing on Wednesday.

They subsequently completed a 100 per cent record in the pool with Rebecka Blomqvist heading in a 66th-minute opener and substitute Elin Rubensson adding a 90th-minute penalty as Argentina, who needed to win and for South Africa v Italy to go in their favour to progress, saw their campaign come to an end.

Peter Gerhardsson’s world number three side, joined in the next round by the South Africans, will now face defending champions the USA in Melbourne on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.

The first half saw Sweden’s Olivia Schough curl a free-kick into Vanina Correa’s arms, then head wide, unmarked, from Sofia Jakobsson’s cross on the half-hour mark.

There was also a header off-target at the other end from Mariana Larroquette, before Argentina suffered a blow towards the end of the half as Florencia Bonsegundo sustained an apparent knee injury and was carried off on a stretcher.

Sweden then went in front midway through the second half when Jakobsson produced another delivery from the right and Blomqvist connected to send a header past Correa, registering her second goal of the tournament.

Hanna Bennison looked to add to that with a strike on 82 minutes that went wide of the top corner, before Rubensson then did double the lead in the final minute of normal time, converting from the spot after Blomqvist had been brought down in the box by Gabriela Chavez.