Source: FOOTYMAD
Scotland Women 1 Sweden Women 4
It would perhaps have been too much to wish for a clean sheet before the EURO 2013 qualifying group games Scotland's women lost out to their Swedish visitors by the score of 4-1 which to be fair was not a bad result when you look at the gap between the two sides in the FIFA rankings. Scotland perhaps paid their guests too much respect in the first half and did not play their usual fast flowing football and keeping their opponents on the back foot. The Swedes showed just why they are fifth in the world with their quick movement from front to back. Their physical fitness showed throughout a game which was played in the searing heat. The tempo at times proved too much for Scotland with perhaps the heat impacting on their decision making in the first half. Some miss-placed passes and large gaps being left for Megan Sneddon and Kim Little to fill did not help Scotland's cause. Hayley Lauder frustrated after her effort went the wrong side of the post (c) Ger Harley | SportPix Things improved in the second half after some choice words by coach Anna Signeul where she asked her team to play forward by around five metres to put the Swede's under pressure. This worked to an extent with more chances falling to Jane Ross which on any other day would have meant Sofia Lundgren in goal would have had to pick the ball out of the net. Lotta Schelin scored a brace in the first half counted by a penalty converted by Kim Little in the last minute of the 45. Sofia Jakobsson killed off Scotland's chances with two goals in the second half. A 4-1 result may sound like a thrashing but I did not think this game falls into that category. Scotland gave on the of the favourites for the Olympic gold a real test, especially in the second half. There were lots of positives to be taken from the game into the European Championship qualifying games against Israel and the Republic of Ireland next month. These games will not be easy, but Scotland should enjoy more procession than today and know that if they stay switched on for the whole 90 minutes there is more than a good chance of six points being secured. Hayley Lauder challenges Annita Svensson (c) Ger Harley | SportPix
