Watch Fifa Women's World Cup: Sweden 2-1 South Africa

1. Use play icon at the top of page to watch live coverage from the 2023 Women's World Cup (UK only)
2. South Africa's Hildah Magaia shocks Sweden with opener in 48th minute
3. Sweden equalise courtesy of Fridolina Rolfo in 65th minute
4. Amanda Ilestedt heads in 90th minute header to secure Sweden win
5. First meeting in a World Cup for Sweden and South Africa
6. Sweden ranked 3rd in the world, South Africa 54th

CLOSE!

Nearly a moment of magic from South Africa captain Refiloe Jane, who nearly gets what would have been one of the goals of the tournament if it had gone in.

She gets the ball 40 yards out and spots Sweden's goalkeeper Zecira Musovic off her line and Jane goes for it. Musovic is massively panicking as she back-tracks, but the ball ends up on the roof of the net instead of inside it.

So close, and the best moment of the match so far. Great effort.

Sue Smith

Former England international on BBC Two

Sweden are so strong at set pieces, a lot of height and experience.

I'm sure that is something South Africa have been working on, they managed to deal with that first corner well.

The first corner of the match comes from Jonna Andersson on the right and it is unconvincing goalkeeping from South Africa's Kaylin Swart, but her team-mates get her out of trouble and manage to smuggle the ball clear.

Another chance for Sweden, this time down the right wing, but once again the final ball, from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, cannot find a team-mate.

Sue Smith

Former England international on BBC Two

The only criticism for Sweden in the early stages would be that final ball.

They are getting into good positions in the box but overhitting the crosses.

Stina Blackstenius is such a willing runner and they know whether they get it centrally or out wide that she is going to make that run.

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There's a lot of empty seats for this one and conditions are pretty horrible in the rain of Wellington.

Sweden look to warm their supporters up and progress down the left flank but the ball in from Elin Rubensson was too high and over the heads of their waiting strikers in the middle.

Sue Smith

Former England international on BBC Two

South Africa have just shown their strengths, that pace out wide and they did have numbers in the box.

They can cause problems when they do attack.

The first effort at goal comes from South Africa following a bright run down the right wing.

The ball finds its way to Kholosa Biyana at the back post but the finish is wayward and high and wide.

Sweden are one of seven teams to have qualified for all nine FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, including being one of only three European nations alongside Germany and Norway to play in each edition.

Sweden qualified for the 2023 World Cup by finishing top of their group in the qualifiers, remaining unbeaten in their eight games (won seven, drew one).

'Sweden can challenge anyone'

Sue Smith

Former England international on BBC Two

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Sweden are definite favourites and they have a reputation of going deep into tournaments. On a good day, they can challenge anyone.

South Africa will take confidence from being African champions and will use their pace on the counter so it's quite an interesting match up today.

I think how it started is how it will continue, Sweden having a lot of possession and South Africa looking to stay organised, disciplined and hit on the counter.

KICK-OFF

It's a rainy afternoon in Wellington and away we go for day four of the Fifa Women's World Cup.

Sweden get us going.

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First World Cup match between the two

Sweden and South Africa will meet for the fifth time and for the first time at the Women’s World Cup.

Sweden are unbeaten in their four previous meetings with South Africa (won three, drew one), keeping a clean sheet in the most recent three but the only draw in that span came the last time they faced each other (0-0 in January 2019).

'Now or never for Sweden'

Jonas Eidevall

Arsenal manager on BBC Two

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I think there have been some remarkable performances for a country like Sweden to be able in a global sport like football who have come so far in so many global tournaments.

You have two golden generations in Sweden. The players born 93' and the players born 96' 97'. Both were crowned Under-19 champions. They are at an age where they can perform really well.

Maybe it's now or never for them to win a tournament together.

Familiar faces

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Magdalena Eriksson won the WSL title five times and the Women's FA Cup four times during an incredible six-season spell at Chelsea

Nine of Sweden's starting XI either play or have played for teams in the Women's Super League - with the only two who haven't being Barcelona striker Fridolina Rolfo and Hacken midfielder Elin Rubensson.

Their side includes Arsenal pair Amanda Ilestedt and Stina Blackstenius, Chelsea's Zecira Musovic and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Everton's Nathalie Bjorn and Manchester City's Filippa Angeldahl.

Everton's Hanna Bennison and Arsenal's Lina Hurtig are also among the substitutes.

Magdalena Eriksson was Chelsea's WSL title-lifting captain last season but is now at Bayern Munich, Jonna Andersson is another former multiple WSL winner at Chelsea, while Kosovare Asllani won the WSL in her one season with Manchester City back in 2016.

Team news

BBC Sport

It is a Sweden team packed full of WSL players, including Chelsea goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, defenders Nathalie Bjorn and Amanda Ilestedt, at Everton and Arsenal respectively, Manchester City midfielder Filippa Angeldahl and forwards Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Stina Blackstenius - from Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.

Sweden XI: Musovic, Andersson, Eriksson, Ilestedt, Bjorn, Asllani, Angeldal, Rolfo, Kaneryd, Rubensson, Blackstenius

BBC Sport

Thembi Kgatlana will be key for South Africa. She scored her country's first - and so far only - goal on the World Cup stage when she put Banyana Banyana ahead against Spain in Le Havre in 2019.

South Africa XI: Swart, Ramalepe, Gamede, Mbane, Holweni, Motlhalo, Kgatlana, Seoposenwe, Jane, Biyana, Magaia.

Warm ups under way

Reuters

Reuters

Watch live

BBC Two

We are live on BBC Two so press the play button at the top of this page to watch our team of Former England internationals Alex Scott and Rachel Brown-Finnis, along with Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall.

Rachel's prediction

Rachel Brown-Finnis

Ex-England goalkeeper on BBC Two

Seven out of the eight quarter-finalists at the 2019 World Cup were European teams and it feels like this tournament could go a similar way.

Five of the top six-ranked teams in the world are from Europe, and Sweden are one of them.

We know how strong they are, and it's hard to look past them in this game, as well as who will get out of this group. South Africa might struggle to keep them quiet. 3-0.

'Blackstenius will be key for Sweden'

Jonas Eidevall

Arsenal manager on BBC Two

Sweden have been one of the overperforming teams in recent years. There’s constantly a threat on the counter, but also they have great structure and organisation, both offensively and defensively.

They are very strong from set pieces, especially offensively, which is key if you want to go deep in these tournaments.

I think this Swedish team is probably the weakest one we have seen in a few years, and honestly I don’t have any expectations of them making it to the final this time.

As a player Stina Blackstenius is so good at running in behind sides and stretching them, creating space for the rest of the team. She will be a key player for them.